The following is a repost of a post from 2011 on recognizing signs of postpartum depression. I'd like to add that all of these factors are also signs of Perinatal (or during pregnancy) Depression as well. Women who have experienced depression prior to pregnancy or with a previous birth are at a greater risk of developing depression with each subsequent pregnancy. If you feel that you are at risk or have some/many/all of the symptoms listed below please speak with your midwife, OB, therapist, or primary care physician right away. There are many options for you to get the help you need. And remember that if you feel that you are at risk of hurting yourself or your baby please call 9-1-1 immediately.
Despite the fact that researchers do not yet know why some women develop postpartum mental health problems, they are all in agreement that the number of women reporting these problems is going up. The US Department of Health and Human Services reports that at least 13% of pregnant and postnatal women experience depression. And some mental health professionals believe that even the current numbers are low because many women remain undiagnosed and untreated. There are a variety of postpartum mental health disorders that can affect women. Some of these include but are not limited to: Postpartum Stress Disorder, Postpartum Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Postpartum Depression, Panic Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. These disorders can appear days, weeks or even months after baby is born and can be prompted by lack of support, going back to work, difficulty feeding baby, sleep deprivation or seemingly nothing at all.
PPD can show itself in a variety of ways, so if you were like me and were keeping an eye out for more typical signs of generalized depression you may not realize you've got it until it's full blown. But knowing how to recognize postpartum depression (PPD) and how to find help are the keys to getting your life back on track when you aren't feeling well after a baby is born.
Typical physical symptoms associated with PPD include (but are not necessarily limited to):
- headaches
- breathing difficulties
- heart palpitations
- tiredness
- feeling unusually hot or cold
- panic attacks
- digestive difficulties
- difficulty sleeping
- oversleeping
- feeling shaky or clumsy
- loss or excessive appetite
- low energy
- inability to concentrate
- excessive crying/crying for no apparent cause or reason
- inability to respond positively to praise or reassurance
- failing to notice your spouse/partners efforts to help
- inappropriate screaming, yelling or fighting
- feeling like an inadequate mother/spouse/person
- sadness (crying)
- guilt
- isolation
- disconnected
- anger
- resentment
- shame
- loss or lack of control
- thoughts of hurting yourself/your baby/others
- scary fantasies (like visioning yourself throwing your baby out of the window or off of your lap)
- feeling like you're not yourself
- being overly critical of your spouse/partner/helpers
- feeling overwhelmed
- feeling emotionally depleted
- loneliness
- helplessness
- anxiety
- fear
- hopelessness
- worthlessness
- irritability
- low self-esteem
- overly sensitive
- confused easily
- extreme agitation
- feeling unable to laugh or see the good side of things
- loss of sex drive
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