Common Questions about Postpartum Depression
Melissa from Happy Moms Therapy answers common questions on Postpartum Depression.
The period after giving birth can certainly be a lot and it typically involves experiencing a very wide range of emotions. Feeling sad, irritable, weepy, with frequent tears can be a very common part of the postpartum time. If you have recently given birth, you might be wondering what is normal and what might be postpartum depression.
Here are some common questions I get from other moms in the postpartum time.
What Exactly is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum Depression, also called Perinatal Depression, is depression that occurs during the perinatal period (which includes pregnancy, postpartum and post-loss).
Postpartum depression can occur not just in the pregnant/birthing person, but also in other family members, including the non-birthing partner (which includes fathers too!).
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression can include the following:
Feelings of irritability and anger (including rage)
Feelings of sadness
Feeling numb or unable to feel your emotions
Tearfulness
Appetite and Sleep disturbances
Feelings of guilt, shame, worthlessness
Loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy
Difficulties concentrating and/or paying attention
Disconnection from your baby
Anxiety
Having intrusive and/or scary thoughts of something bad happening to your baby, self or other loved ones
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Changes in your substance use patterns (such as drinking more alcohol)
What are the Baby Blues?
The “Baby Blues” is a term that was coined to describe the highly emotional time after giving birth. These are commonly linked to hormonal changes that are happening during that time.
The Baby Blues typically start up around 2 to 3 days after giving birth. It includes feelings of sadness, worry, uncertainty and overwhelm. You may experience bouts of crying (sometimes for seemingly very little or no reason). These feelings often come and go and will typically last for about 2 weeks.
Are there other kinds of Postpartum mental health struggles?
Yes, Postpartum Depression is often used to refer to a variety of mental health struggles that can come up in the postpartum time. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, or PMAD, is what practitioners now refer to the group of mental health struggles in postpartum.
This can include not just Depression, but also:
Anxiety
OCD
Bipolar
Psychosis
PTSD
How Common is Postpartum Depression?
Both the Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression (PPD) are pretty common. For the Baby Blues, more than 80% of moms report mild to moderate feelings of sadness, while 1 in 5 women will experience Postpartum Depression. This stat is likely underrepresented as, there is still a huge stigma attached to PPD, with many mothers still suffering in silence.
How do I Know if I Have Postpartum Depression or the Baby Blues?
Typically the Baby Blues happen within a few days after birth up to two weeks postpartum. While the Baby Blues can include many of the symptoms of Postpartum Depression, they will often be lower in severity and will naturally go away on its own as your body heals and your hormones adjust after birth.
Postpartum Depression will continue past two weeks and the symptoms are felt at a higher level. If it’s been past two weeks since you gave birth and you’re noticing that your symptoms aren’t going away and/or getting worse, then you may be experiencing Postpartum Depression.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
Just like in Depression, Postpartum Depression is often caused by a multitude of reasons. Genetics, past experiences, current stressors, adjustments to caring for a baby, sleep deprivation, and hormone fluctuations can all play a role. Previous experiences with depression and other mental health struggles are often linked to a higher possibility of experiencing PPD.
How Long Does Postpartum Depression last?
If left untreated can last several months to several years and there is really no “average” length of time. Some moms report improvement of their symptoms over time, reporting a resolution in 3 to 6 months, however other moms report continual symptoms well past 6 month, with over half still meeting the criteria for PPD over a year after the baby’s birth.
According to this 2 year study, many moms with PPD report a peak of symptoms 4 to 8 weeks after delivery, however they still reported overall scores of depression still over 2 years after delivery. My interpretation of this and what I see with my clients, is that there is often this peak of more intense symptoms soon after birth as they are going through huge adjustments while sleep deprived and trying to make sense of this new life of theirs. Overtime, I see many mothers adjust to the demands of motherhood and typically they will also start to get more sleep (which certainly helps with better emotional regulation) which I believe speaks to the severity of symptoms coming down. However, the demands of motherhood are still very high with very little support from our society. So while mothers “get used” to this and find ways to deal with it, they are still very much struggling and dealing with depression. I have worked with a lot of moms that have come to me 2- 3 years after having their baby that share that they think they experienced PPD and have never “gotten over it.”
Should I get help for Postpartum Depression?
Yes! Even if you aren’t sure if you have postpartum depression, baby blues, or just your typical transition struggles during that postpartum time, getting extra support can be a game-changer!
Most moms I’ve worked with (including myself), don’t look back and think- “I wish I waited longer to get help.”
More often it’s-
“I wish I would have gotten help sooner, maybe it wouldn’t have gotten so bad.”
So if you are finding yourself struggling, feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from yourself, or just stuck, I highly encourage you to reach out for more support.
If you’re in California and are interested in my therapy services, you can schedule a free consultation here or email me here.
What is the Best Treatment for Postpartum Depression?
The “best” treatment for postpartum depression is really going to be dependent on your symptoms and your situation.
For some, this may include medication support. There are some very good and safe medications that you can take for postpartum depression while nursing. If you think medication may be for you, I’d recommend for you to reach out to your OBGYN.
While medication can be helpful for some women, it is not the only option.
For many, getting therapy is going to be your best option. It can be really important to find a therapist that specializes in postpartum and motherhood struggles, as they will know the unique challenges that come up in postpartum and how to best support it.
As a Postpartum and Perinatal Therapist, there are several areas that I will look at with my clients in order to treat their postpartum depression.
These areas include:
sleep
relationship with partner (if they have one)
relationships with family and other support persons
feeding baby, including struggles, concerns, and how it’s going
self-care
If my clients had a traumatic pregnancy and/or birth experience, then we will also do EMDR therapy to treat it. EMDR therapy is also very helpful in treating other past traumatic and painful experiences that may be coming up during their experiences as a mom.
What if I don’t need therapy but just want more support?
While I’m a huge advocate for therapy, I understand that may not be feasible for everyone! Don’t worry- you are in the right spot!
I have a lot of resources that you may find helpful. Check out the following:
→ Get a Postpartum Support Plan
→ Join The Mom Group - an Online Support Group for Moms
Disclaimer: This is not a replacement for a therapeutic relationship or mental health services. This is for educational purposes only and should be in used only in conjunction in working with a licensed mental health professional. If you are in California and looking for a professional therapist feel free to use the contact me to request an appointment or search Psychology Today for local therapists in your area.
