Signs that tell you that you are in the midst of postpartum depression

People believe that when a baby is born a new stage of life begins, a happy stage, with its more and less. You know, motherhood is not easy, there are waking up every few hours, colic of the infant, the typical fears of the first time, but in the end having your child finally in arms compensates for all those small evils.

But what happens when it is not? What happens if life becomes a gray well, what happens when motherhood becomes one of your worst nightmares? Postpartum depression is not something to belittle, it is very real and not a simple hormonal imbalance after childbirth. How to recognize that you are going through something like that? What are the signs that tell you that you are in the middle of a postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is a form of depression that affects women and to a lesser extent men (yes, you read correctly) after the birth of a child. It is characterized by the manifestation of feelings of sadness and tendency to cry although it can also present other symptoms typical of common depressions.

The incidence of this type of depression in mothers is 16%, although doctors say that due to social pressure we believe that some parents should be happy after having given birth that everything has to be wonderful, all this makes many women and most men hide their symptoms, even those closest to them or their doctors. Therefore, there are doctors who believe that one in four women you can get it, although it is very difficult to make an exact calculation.

Baby-blues or postpartum depression, what do I have?

Doctors consider baby-blues "to the existence of a slight alteration in the mood of the mother puerpera," with mild depressive symptoms that appears between two and four days after delivery. In general it is manifested by lack of concentration, anxiety and sadness but above all by an instability of humor with a great tendency to cry. This state remits in two weeks without any treatment and is usually the most common.

Postpartum depression is initiated in the first twelve weeks after delivery, due to the great change that occurs with the arrival of a child, the symptoms are much more intense and generally needs treatment.

Symptoms that may indicate that you are suffering from depression

You cannot leave the state in which you are. As much as you try all this surpasses you, the days go by and these become weeks, even months without you knowing how to improve the situation. No. You're not having a baby blues, this is more serious.

You feel withdrawn and little or nothing communicative. Just thinking about home visits to see the baby, even if they are from the people you love, makes you dread. You silence the phone every time it rings or you don't answer, in many cases you don't even connect it. As with all other types of depression, there is a need to isolate yourself from the outside world, to retract yourself.

You have negative feelings about motherhood and the newborn. Being a mother is not easy at all. There are many situations, and aspects of motherhood that would take away the desire to be a mother to anyone, but you should be able to see the bright side and think positively. If when someone asks you about aspects of your motherhood or about becoming a parent again, your first feelings are negative or complaining about the situation, it is that something is not going well. By this we do not mean that if someone asks you about your nights and you have not been sleeping for a week, do not answer that they are hell, but that you are able to see other moments with the baby that make you happy, if you do not find any, Ask for an appointment with your doctor and discuss it.

Dark thoughts. If you suddenly find yourself grieving over dark and gloomy places, or have feelings of harming yourself, your partner or the baby, it is something you should not miss. It is very important to monitor these types of feelings because they are highly dangerous. Having a conversation about them is not easy, but it is something you must do with whom you trust to try to find a solution.

You feel unable to connect with your child. It is a myth that every woman has a maternal instinct or that this special mother-child connection is instantaneous once you see her, what is called love at first sight does not have to happen to everyone, but sooner or later it arrives, if the weeks pass and you don't feel any connection with your child is a symptom that something is not going well.

Risk factor's

Not all women have the same predisposition to suffer from depression, but there are factors that can influence you to be more or less prone.

The most important risk factors are:

  • Frequent anxiety or depression crises during pregnancy, particularly during the third trimester.
  • Having suffered from depression or anxiety previously.
  • History of depression or anxiety in the family.
  • Stress caused by child care.
  • Lack of social support.
  • Difficulties in marriage.
  • Stress from external events such as financial problems or the loss of a job.
  • Caring for a child with a difficult temperament.
  • Low self-esteem

What to do to help you out?

Admitting that you have a depression, first before yourself and then before others is not an easy drink, it is not telling our partner "honey, I have a terrible headache", but to get out of that dark and isolated place is the only way. You will be able to get out of it, but you will not be able to do it yourself. Trusting and asking for help from people who love and care about you is one of the most important steps towards recovery and a much happier motherhood.

Other measures that can help you while they are

  • Ask for help with the housework and care of the baby.
  • Talk to other moms about your concerns and feelings. Many times talking to someone who goes through the same helps both
  • Try to be accompanied most of the time
  • Maintain a balanced diet. The lack of certain vitamins and nutrients can aggravate your condition.
  • Find time for yourself. Read or go for a walk in the sun. The sun is a natural antidepressant, but remember, it does not work miracles.

Video: Embracing Hope in the Midst Postpartum - Jeramy and Jerusha Clark (March 2024).