Postpartum Depression Symptoms

The joy of being a new mother can easily be overshadowed by postpartum depression symptoms. While many women may experience the “baby blues”, postpartum depression is a more serious issue.

Pregnancy and childbirth bring about a plethora of changes within a woman’s body. After the baby has been born, the body begins to adjust once again, causing wild fluctuations in levels of estrogen, progesterone and other hormones. These roller coaster changes in hormones can create many different emotions in the new mom; depression, fatigue, lethargic and more. All of this, while still happy and proud of the newborn baby. The hormonal imbalances themselves are quite an adjustment, but when combined with the stresses of dealing with an unfamiliar schedule and demands upon the mom’s time can result in more serious postpartum depression symptoms.

Emotional issues are also affected by outside factors in addition to the internal ones. Some babies are fretful and colicky, and their discomfort translates into little rest for the already weary new mother. Frequent crying, extra duties and responsibilities and constant care of the new arrival can overwhelm a new mother who may have little to no outlets for her frustration. With less time to devote to her own personal care, the mom may begin to feel unattractive and lost; the perfect opportunity for postpartum depression to set in.

The entire lifestyle of a woman also undergoes a transformation after the arrival of a baby. Any routine or regular schedule that existed before the baby has now all but disappeared. Relaxing times reading a book, talking with friends or luxuriating in a bubble bath have now taken the form of rocking the baby, feeding the baby or doing the baby’s unending laundry. Financial issues may be wearing on the mind of the new parents, with new expenses of diapers, formula and miscellaneous baby needs. Suddenly, it is not possible to just pick up and go on a shopping trip; instead, shopping must be squeezed into narrow time frames dictated by the baby’s schedule. Even though the new mom is thrilled with her new baby, losing a former lifestyle can be a defeating measure.

Any one of these factors can be a cause of postpartum depression symptoms; all of them combined can create serious risks for the mother and the baby. Anger, loss of appetite, severe mood swings, a lack of happiness, fatigue and thoughts of harming herself or the baby could overwhelm the mom. Treatment can include counseling or prescriptions and may be necessary to bring the joy of motherhood back into the picture.