Everyone expects that women who have just had a baby will be some of the happiest women on earth. Who would not be happy after giving birth to a precious bundle of joy?
It is a miracle to see the new life that was growing inside of you. However, it is also more common than you think to suffer from the blues after giving birth. In fact, approximately 85 percent of new mothers do.
The baby blues can include crying or feeling like you want to cry a lot, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty sleeping, depression, and anxiety. It is common to feel many of these feelings given all of the new added responsibilities in your life.
These feelings generally develop around three to five days after giving birth and go away on their own in about a week.
Postpartum depression, however, is a condition that does not go away on its own so quickly. Many of the symptoms are the same, but they can continue for weeks and even months.
It is more severe and can be very traumatic for families where the mother experiences postpartum depression.
The trauma is compounded because postpartum depression involves more than just depression or crying. It also results in significant fatigue that impacts their ability to care for their baby and their families and even themselves.
Some women experience delusions or hallucinations.
In the most serious cases, new mothers have considered suicide or harmed their own children as a result of their feelings of helplessness and desperation.
Postpartum depression is most often associated with changes in the hormone levels of the mother that occur after childbirth. However, prior problems with or a family history of mental illness can also contribute to the likelihood of developing postpartum depression.
In addition, a lack of support and marital problems can exacerbate the problem. New mothers often feel unequipped to handle all the demands of new motherhood, and combined with a lack of sleep, their child crying, being away from their coworkers and their job which can provide external support and validation, and expectations that new mothers should automatically know what to do, they just do not know how to cope.
Women who experience these symptoms do not have to suffer alone, however. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and feel overwhelmed, there are resources you can turn to.
You should research the symptoms to see if what you are feeling may be associated with this disorder and can be treated.
There are even on-line support groups where you can talk with others about your feelings and problems without leaving your home. On-line sites can help you determine whether your feelings are related to postpartum depression and you may find some suggestions that will prove very helpful to you in dealing with this condition.
Instead of feeling hopeless, you can come to understand what you are going through and how to cope with it. This kind of networking is very helpful. Local support groups through area hospitals and resources are also extremely valuable.
Professionals at these support groups can provide you with resources and support that can make an incredible difference in your life.
There are some very practical suggestions you can find when you conduct research on postpartum depression, as well.
For instance, you can alleviate some of the stress load by hiring a cleaning person or getting a helper for a while. Family, friends, and your spouse can also help take some of the pressure off of you.
Emma has written about some very practical suggestions you can find when you conduct research on postpartum depression, which you can learn about at http://www.PostpartumDepressionTreatment.org. Also, discover the treating PPD resource that has helped many women and other postpartum depression treatment options.
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