{"id":6632,"date":"2019-05-23T04:05:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-23T04:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=6632"},"modified":"2021-05-04T16:08:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-04T16:08:23","slug":"20-possible-postpartum-depression-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/20-possible-postpartum-depression-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Possible Postpartum Depression Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Postpartum depression occurs in more than three million women in the United States each year. It occurs after childbirth. A new mother will experience a range of emotions, such as fear, excitement, joy, or anxiety. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may seem unusual for a mother to be depressed after giving birth, but she is going through a lot of different emotions. It is a serious condition and shouldn\u2019t be taken lightly. It can lead to major depression if left untreated. It may even be mistaken for baby blues. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baby blues occur two to three days after giving birth and lasts for up to two weeks. If symptoms last longer than two weeks, then a woman has postpartum depression. In order to treat postpartum depression, a woman will need to go to counseling and take antidepressants. In some cases, hormone therapy may be needed. There are eight possible postpartum depression symptoms that women may experience.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. <\/strong>Withdrawing from friends and family are possible postpartum depression symptoms. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A new mother needs all of the support that she can get, but when she\u2019s going through postpartum depression, she won\u2019t want to be around anyone. She will stay inside the house and when she does have family and friends over, she will retire to her bedroom. When she does this, it has nothing to do with her family and friends. She is just having postpartum depression<\/a>. It may cause family and friends to not want to be around her if they don\u2019t understand what she\u2019s going through. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lot of the times when it comes to mental health disorders, people try to avoid talking about it. They may put it on something else, such as she just doesn\u2019t want to be bothered. This will cause others to get angry with the new mother because they don\u2019t understand what she\u2019s going through.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. <\/strong>Fear that she\u2019s not a good mother is another symptom of postpartum depression.<\/strong> <\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

She may be doing all the right things, but in her mind, she believes that she\u2019s not doing anything right. For instance, when the baby cries, she is doing the right thing, but if the baby continues to cry it will make her think she\u2019s not taking care of the baby right. This symptom <\/a>can be even worse if there are others around her that are making her feel bad about the way she\u2019s taking care of the baby. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family and friends can make themselves too fast to speak their minds and let you know how they feel without thinking. For instance, the new mother\u2019s mother-in-law may tell her that she\u2019s holding the baby the wrong way. If she\u2019s going through postpartum depression that will trigger her to think she shouldn\u2019t handle the baby because she may hurt him or her.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Panic attacks and severe anxiety are possible symptoms a woman may experience when she has postpartum depression. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The smallest thing will cause her to have a panic attack or have anxiety<\/a>. For instance, if the baby starts crying she may have a panic attack because she may not know what to do. It will even be worse if the baby continuously cries. When this happens, counseling and antidepressants need to be given immediately. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new mother needs to know that babies will cry. Sometimes babies cry because they want to be held, fed, or changed. There are a number of reasons for a baby crying. Sometimes a crying baby could be sick. A new mother may be so anxious that whenever the baby cries she immediately takes the baby to the doctor\u2019s office. Once her anxiety is controlled, she\u2019ll be able to handle her crying baby without stressing herself out.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Depressed mood or mood swings are possible in postpartum depression. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While most new mothers are happy when they have a new baby, there are some women who are depressed<\/a>. She will be happy one minute and the next angry. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a person has mood swings it causes others to stay away from them because you don\u2019t know when their mood will turn bad. If others are around the new mother expects she is having postpartum depression, they will know how to handle her mood swings. When she is suffering from a depressed mood or mood swings it can be difficult for the people around her. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people around her may understand what she is going through, but after a while, it will take a toll on them as well. Family and friends need to suggest to her to seek mental health treatment. She needs to find out why she is having these mood swings all of the time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Loss of appetite or eating more than usual are possible symptoms of postpartum depression. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re in a depressed mood, you will either eat too much or too little. A lot of the time after having a baby, a woman may feel that she is fat and won\u2019t eat that much. She\u2019ll eat small portions of food even though she\u2019s still hungry. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other hand, a woman may be so depressed that she will constantly eat. She may be full, but she will still eat. In her mind, she believes that she\u2019s hungry, but she\u2019s not. This will cause her to gain additional weight<\/a>, which isn\u2019t good for her health. Once she\u2019s able to find out the real reason why she\u2019s not eating or eating too much, she will be able to get her eating habits back on track. She\u2019ll be able to go back to a healthy weight while taking care of her baby.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Excessive crying is a symptom of postpartum depression that women may face. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

She will constantly cry for no reason. She may be in the middle of doing something and start crying. When someone asks her what is the matter, she\u2019ll continuously cry. For instance, whenever the baby cries, she may start crying as well. This can be difficult for her spouse because he may not know how to handle it. He\u2019s already trying to learn how to take care of a baby, but he has to find a way to calm his wife or girlfriend as well. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way a woman can figure out what is triggering her crying is writing down her feelings in a journal. When she goes to the counselor, she can read the journal to the counselor who can give her advice on how to deal with her problems. Antidepressants <\/a>may help stop her excessive crying as well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Difficulty bonding with the baby occurs with postpartum depression. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The baby may take to the father more than the mother. Whenever the mother holds the baby, the baby cries until the father holds him or her. The mother may give up on taking care of the baby. She may start to believe she has the wrong baby. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to bonding with a baby, the baby needs to feel loved and cared for. A baby can sense when their mother is anxious <\/a>and will feel scared whenever she holds him or her. In order for a new mother to bond with her child, she needs to learn skills that will help her bond with her child. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

She can\u2019t give up on being a mother just because she\u2019s not having that connection with her baby. It will take some time, but it will happen. When it does, she will be overjoyed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Thoughts of harming herself and\/or the baby is a serious symptom of postpartum depression. <\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When a new mother is unable to bond or take care of the baby, she may want to harm herself or the baby. The mother doesn\u2019t need to be left alone with the baby if you feel this is the case. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, the baby may continuously cry and the mother may not know how to get the baby quiet, so she may suffocate the baby with a pillow. On the other hand, the mother may harm herself by cutting or taking pills in order to keep herself from hearing all the crying. She will need to seek immediate medical attention for herself if you ever expect she wants to hurt herself or the baby. She may need inpatient mental health<\/a> treatment to get better. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ongoing treatment will be needed to prevent her from having reoccurring thoughts of hurting herself and the baby.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Losing Interest in Hobbies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers that experience postpartum depression show signs of losing interest in things that they usually enjoy doing. The changes in hormones after birth may leave you feeling like a different person. Maybe you used to enjoy watching a romantic comedy with your partner, but now you can’t stand the thought of watching your favorite movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The changes to interests also extend into foods and beverages as well. Women with postpartum depression may find that their favorite meal no longer excites them, and they no longer enjoy the same flavors and textures in food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, the changes are not severe enough to present a threat to the mother’s physical or mental health. However, its vital that the mother finds someone to talk to so they can express their feelings. If left untreated and unmanaged, postpartum depression can lead to the development of severe mental distress. If you find that you are losing interest in life, speak to your doctor about medications <\/a>that can help you cope.
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10.    Extension of the Baby Blues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After giving birth to their child, it’s relatively common for new mothers to develop a dip in hormone<\/a> production for the following two weeks. The body has to deal with no longer having a fetus to support. As a result, the hormonal system makes changes in estrogen and progesterone production, back to pre-pregnancy levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This change in hormones plays havoc with the mother’s emotions and mood. Feelings of irritability and restlessness, along with mild depression, are typical symptoms of “the baby blues.” Most mothers make a full recovery from the baby blues back to healthy hormonal balance. However, those new mothers that experience a prolonged state of baby blues may be at risk of developing postpartum depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your baby blues symptoms don’t slowly improve over two weeks, and you find yourself steadily slipping into a depressed state, then you could be dealing with the onset of postpartum depression, speak to your doctor for help.
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11.    Issues with Decision Making<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers experience a strain on their hormonal system as it rebalances its function after the body gives birth to the child. Some mothers may experience changes in their decision making, where they are unable to decide without serious thought. This symptom may not seem like much of an issue at first, but it’s a sign that the mother may be experiencing the onset of cognitive problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decision-making is a function of the cerebellum, the region at the rear of the brain<\/a>. When the hormonal system is not operating at full efficiency, the mother may start to experience a disruption in the normal function of this area of the brain. As a result, the mother may have trouble with making decisions \u2013 like when to feed and tend to their baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decision-making does not have to be a life or death situation. It can involve simple tasks, like getting up to use the bathroom or making a cup of tea. The mother may find themselves rising from the couch to get themselves a bite to eat, and then promptly forget why they walked into the kitchen in the first place.
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12.    Changes in Sleep Patterns<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers may find that they experience changes in their sleeping patterns after the birth of their child. The circadian rhythms govern the sleeping cycle, and during pregnancy<\/a>, the mother works on a sleeping schedule that suits the development of the fetus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After birth, the changes in hormones may have a detrimental effect on the sleep cycle, making changes to the circadian rhythm. As a result, some new mothers may find that they develop a case of insomnia in the weeks that follow the birth. Insomnia is a sleep disorder where the mother does not know if she is asleep or awake. As a result, she does not receive any REM sleep, which is vital for clearing neurological pathways. When the brain does not clear toxins, it results in an accumulation of toxins in the brain which disrupt normal cognitive functions, such as thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sleep-deprived mothers may also find they have difficulty with controlling their mood, and they may experience frequent bouts of confusion that affects decision making.
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13.    Loss of Libido<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Changes in hormones in new mothers can have a devastating effect on their sex drive. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that govern the sexual response, and they are also responsible for regulating libido <\/a>as well. New mothers who are dealing with postpartum depression, may have no interest in sex, and no desire to engage in sex with their partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These changes in sexual behavior typically occur due to low hormone production, and low levels of estrogen circulating in the bloodstream. After the patient starts hormone replacement therapy under the advice of their doctor, the mother should notice an immediate improvement in their symptoms and a return of their sex drive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While hormone imbalance is the primary cause of a drop in libido, the condition may also have something to do with a buildup of anxiety in new mothers. When stress and anxiety stress to accumulate, it can rapidly reduce libido, resulting in a loss of interest in sex.
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14.    Fatigue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It’s common for new mothers to feel tired after giving birth, and for the first week or two. Giving birth is tremendous taxation on the body, requiring vast amounts of energy from the mother. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it’s no surprise that they may feel somewhat fatigued from their ordeal. However, when feelings of fatigue <\/a>persist past the two-week mark, it may be a sign of the onset of postpartum depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The adrenal glands are partially to blame for feelings of fatigue, along with the hormonal system. Disruptions in hormonal balance may cause the overproduction of cortisol, an adrenaline-like hormone produced in the adrenal glands. As a result, the new mother may find that she feels anxious and tired all of the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors treat these hormone imbalances using hormone replacement therapy to increase the levels of estrogen in the body. In most cases, mothers will return to a healthy state of energy after a few days of treatment.
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15.    Malaise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers may develop malaise in the weeks following the birth of their child. Malaise <\/a>describes a condition where the new mother feels like there is something wrong with them or their baby, and they cannot explain the source of their emotional distress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaise is a psychological condition with no attributing physical cause. Doctors are at a loss to explain the origins of the disorder, and there is no cure or medication available to cure the symptoms of this condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, research shows that malaise may arise from uncertainty about the patients’ health. They realize something is wrong with them, and the subconscious mind starts to imagine a worst-case scenario \u2013 leading to the development of malaise and anxiety in the new mother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, malaise is not a permanent condition, and when the new mother receives a diagnosis from their doctor \u2013 the feelings of uncertainty start to life as the mother begins treatment.
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16.    Overwhelm<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers who are experiencing the onset of postpartum depression may find that they start to develop feelings of uncertainty and overwhelm. After giving birth, the situation of being a mother now manifests into physical reality with the arrival of the child. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some new mothers may not be emotionally prepared to handle the rise of responsibility. As a result, the mother may start to experience feelings of overwhelm, where they begin to question their feasibility as a mother. Some patients may experience emotions <\/a>of deep regret for having the child, and they may slip into a prolonged depression as a result of their inability to deal with the flood of new negative emotions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New mothers experiencing the onset of postpartum depression require counseling. At the counseling sessions, they have the chance to unload their darkest thoughts and feelings in the confidence of a medical professional. The doctor has experience in dealing with postpartum depression in new mothers and can help them gain insight into their condition.
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17.    Cognitive Problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

New mothers experiencing the onset of postpartum depression may start to experience cognitive issues. As a result, the patient may find that they have trouble holding their concentration and focus on a task. The new mother may also find that they have issues with making decisions, and other tasks involving the cerebellum and frontal cortex of the brain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These cognitive issues all stem from hormonal imbalance<\/a> related to giving birth. It takes some time for the hormonal system to make the necessary adjustments to hormone production in the first two weeks after giving birth. During this time, it’s best for the mother to rest, and avoid any buildup of anxiety that could spark the onset of postpartum depression. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

New mothers experiencing cognitive issues may also notice they have problems with memory recall. As a result, they may forget when they last changed or fed their baby, resulting in improper care and treatment of the newborn.
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18.    Trust Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Psychologists completed a study where they looked at the personality types of women who develop postpartum depression in the weeks after giving birth. The results of the survey were interesting, showing that trust plays a significant role in the development of the disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those new mothers who did not trust their partner or their surroundings are twice as likely to develop symptoms of postpartum depression. Those mothers who do not have trust issues with their partner or their environment experienced no problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Doctors are at a loss to explain the impact of behavior on the development of postpartum depression. However, psychologists <\/a>think that new mothers with trust issues are not psychologically stable, resulting in them always living with some level of anxiety. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, these new mothers are perfectly positioned to develop a neurotic personality that leads to the development of the condition. Unfortunately, there is no way to remedy this lack of trust, except through counseling with a clinical psychologist.
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19. Neuroticism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The same study looking at behavioral types that may lead to the development of postpartum depression in new mothers, suggests that certain personality types are more prone to developing the disorder than others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychologists identify new mothers with a predominant neurotic personality, as the highest risk group for developing the disorder. The research shows that pregnant women who are not exhibiting signs of depression but have high neuroticism <\/a>scores on their personality test have a 400-percent increased risk in develop symptoms of postpartum depression after giving birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same study shows that the highest risk periods for the development of PPD occur six weeks and six months after the delivery of the baby. Characterized by sensitivity to anxiety and stress, as well as heightened sensitivity to fear, envy, worry, and loneliness, the neurotic personality is more aware of their emotional surroundings than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research suggests that new mothers, with this characteristic as the dominant force in their personality profile, are more sensitive to the hormonal changes brought about by pregnancy and birth.
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20. Psychosis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some new mothers that experience severe PPD symptoms, and do not receive treatment or counseling for their condition, may end up developing severe adverse mental health disorders. Chronic depression can ruin the mental health of any individual, male or female. However, when the condition combines with other mental health disorders, it can result in the manifestation of psychosis<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Psychosis describes a condition where the new mother loses touch with reality. As a result, she may develop hallucinations and delusions that they think are real, but have no basis in fact. As a result, many patients with psychosis complain about hearing voices talking to them, telling them to do outlandish actions that may hurt themselves or others \u2013 like their baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New mothers that develop psychosis as a complication of PPD require immediate medication and counseling to help them navigate their mind back to reality. If left untreated, the mother may cause harm to themselves or the child.
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