Maternal Mental Health and Postpartum Depression

Did you know approximately 1 in 7 women experience postpartum depression after giving birth? Postpartum depression, or PPD, is considered to be the most common complication women experience after delivery. Postpartum depression has been described as a series of body, mind, and emotional changes such as anxiety and sadness, that a new mother experiences after giving birth. New mothers usually experience PPD about 1 to 3 weeks after giving birth, but the onset of PPD can be as late as one year after birth.

Many of us have heard about PPD, but not so much as “the baby blues”. The Baby Blues have just about the same symptoms as PPD, but are less severe and last only a few days to a few weeks. Postpartum depression can be first thought to be just that, but instead the symptoms experienced last longer and are more severe. Now, there isn’t necessarily a single cause associated with postpartum depression, but there are both physical and emotional changes that can occur. After giving birth, a new mother’s body goes through hormonal changes such as a drop in estrogen and progesterone and other hormones produced by the thyroid gland that decrease in production. Other than physical changes, changes to lifestyle and routine can cause a new mother to be sleep-deprived, overwhelmed, and change her outlook on her life, identity, and even her ability to care for her child. Due to the multitude of changes that can occur, a new mother can begin to experience mood swings, feelings of hopelessness, loss of appetite, difficulty bonding with the baby, anxiety, panic attacks, and some have experienced thoughts of self-harm.

The changes experienced by the mother can start to affect the mother-infant interactions and bonding. Research shows mothers experiencing PPD are less likely to have physical contact and affectionate touch with their infants, less smiling, less vocal communication, and less enrichment activities. All of these interactions are very important for the child’s emotional, cognitive, and social development. The early mother-child interactions are not just fundamental for all aspects of a child’s development, but vital for the emotional health and well-being of the mother and child.

Postpartum Depression is very common, very real, and it can affect any new mother. If you feel you or a family member may be experiencing PPD, first please reach out to someone in your support system. It is always advised to contact your healthcare provider (primary care physician or OB-GYN) and share your symptoms to determine what treatment option is best. Treatments range from counseling, routine visits with your healthcare provider, and medications such as antidepressants. The most important thing for a new mother to remember is they are not alone, and their health and well-being is always just as important as their new child.

If you or a family member may be experiencing PPD, please see the resources below:

• Postpartum Support International (PSI): 1-800-944-4773 - Please visit the Florida PSI chapter at: https://psichapters.com/fl/

• National Suicide and Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK

References:

Carberg, J., by:, M. R. and F.-C., & Editor, M. (2022, March 21). Statistics on postpartum depression - postpartum depression resources. PostpartumDepression.org. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://www.postpartumdepression.org/resources/statistics/

Field, T. (2010, February). Postpartum depression effects on early interactions, parenting, and Safety Practices: A Review. Infant behavior & development. Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2819576/

Florida chapter of Postpartum Support International. Postpartum Support Int. U.S. Network. (2022, March 24). Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://psichapters.com/fl/

Lubotzky-Gete, S., Ornoy, A., Grotto, I., & Calderon-Margalit, R. (2021, February 20).

Postpartum depression and infant development up to 24 months: A nationwide population-based study. Journal of Affective Disorders. Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165032721001683?casa_token=QSosJc6IIrIAAAAA%3AnIwa2gBdYbUzaejjq8ywnhJ-n-2v01bX5stTKzdK1xVebmYGFybKrbP3PtCQb65SX02KmaZQ3w

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2018, September 1). Postpartum depression. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617

Postpartum depression. ACOG. (n.d.). Retrieved May 21, 2022, from https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/postpartum-depression

Postpartum depression. Postpartum depression | Office on Women's Health. (2021). Retrieved May 22, 2022, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/postpartum-depression