Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

After your daughter gives birth, help her monitor her emotional state. As a parent yourself, you know how exhausting it is to be a new mother, and you know how your emotions swirl as your hormone levels change following childbirth.

The continuum of depressive disorders after delivery ranges from "baby blues" to PPD. Although "baby blues" is more prevalent, the symptoms of this disorder (baby blues), which occur within the first few weeks after delivery, are less severe and do not require treatment. PPD can occur up to a year after delivery, is more severe, and requires treatment by a physician. PPD has important consequences for the well-being of mothers and their children. For example, in a 2006 study, mothers who reported depressive symptoms were less likely to engage in practices to promote child development, such as playing with their infant. PPD also might also be associated with discontinuation of breastfeeding.

So educate yourself and your daughter about postpartum depression (PPD) so that you can get help if needed. Read this article about baby blues and postpartum depression for more information. Here's an excerpt:

What is the difference between “baby blues,”postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis?

The baby blues can happen in the days right after childbirth and normally go away within a few days to a week. A new mother can have sudden mood swings, sadness, crying spells, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, and feel irritable, restless, anxious, and lonely. Symptoms are not severe and treatment isn’t needed. But there are things you can do to feel better. Nap when the baby does. Ask for help from your spouse, family members, and friends. Join a support group of new moms or talk with other moms.

Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness. The difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues is that postpartum depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps her from functioning well for a longer period of time. Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support groups, and medicines are things that can help.

Postpartum psychosis is rare. It occurs in 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric problem called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings, from depression to irritability to euphoria.

This CDC report in Jama for May 2008 discusses PPD. Here are some of the points made in the report:

• Postpartum depression (PPD) affects 10%-15% of mothers within the first year after giving birth.
• Younger mothers and those experiencing partner-related stress or physical abuse might be more likely to develop PPD.
• Younger women, those with lower educational attainment, and women who received Medicaid benefits for their delivery were more likely to report postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS).
• Possible risk factors for postpartum depressive symptoms included in the analysis were:
  


• low infant birth weight
• admission to a neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU)
• number of previous live births
• tobacco use during the last 3 months of pregnancy (Women who reported smoking one or more cigarettes on an average day)
• physical abuse before or during pregnancy (were considered physically abused if they said that a current or former husband/partner had pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, choked, or physically hurt them in any way during the 12 months before or during the most recent pregnancy)
• and experiencing emotional, financial, partner-related, or traumatic stress during the 12 months before delivery.

These are the questions asked in the survey for this report. The response choices were "always," "often," "sometimes," "rarely," and "never"; women who said "often" or "always" to either question were classified as experiencing self-reported postpartum depression symptoms. Discuss these with your daughter:

(1) "Since your new baby was born, how often have you felt down, depressed, or hopeless?"

(2) "Since your new baby was born, how often have you had little interest or little pleasure in doing things?"

Leave us a comment: What tips can you share about spotting the baby blues and postpartum depression? What steps have you taken that have helped cope with the baby blues or with postpartum depression?