Silent Struggle: Recognizing and Coping with Postpartum Mood Disorders
*Trigger Warning: Discussion of many postpartum mood disorders and mental health*
Despite the title silent struggle, my goal is that nobody struggles in silence. Far too often mothers struggle with postpartum mood disorders alone. I truly feel we should mother the mothers to ensure they are well cared for and have a more positive postpartum experience.
Baby Blues
The baby blues is the least severe of postpartum mood disorders. It is fairly common to experience this 2-3 day postpartum as your hormones rapidly change. The baby blues typically are short lived, if it seems to be continuing for longer than 2 weeks, you should consult a healthcare provider as you may be experiencing postpartum depression. The baby blues can vary for every mother. Signs of baby blues can include sadness, feeling restless, feeling impatient, crying for no reason, not feeling like yourself, it is hard to concentrate, and mood changes. (March Of Dimes, 2021)
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a more serious condition than the baby blues. It will vary for every woman but commonly it is described as strong feelings of sadness, worry, anxiety, tiredness that are long lasting after birth. It can become hard to care for yourself, your baby and even other family members. Postpartum depression may sound similar to the baby blues, however postpartum depression is more severe and lasts longer. About 15% of women develop postpartum depression. (March Of Dimes, 2019) Postpartum depression is a very in depth topic that I urge you to read more about on the March of Dimes website I have cited.
Postpartum Psychosis
This is one that is not commonly talked about as it is a rare occurrence. However, I urge everyone to become informed on what it is as it is incredibly severe. 1-2 women out 1,000 develop this condition. (March Of Dimes, 2019) Some signs of postpartum psychosis include, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, feeling confused, feeling hopeless, paranoia, rapid mood swings, trouble sleeping, etc. (March Of Dimes, 2019) If you feel you are or a loved one is experiencing this. I urge you to contact a licensed healthcare professional or call 911.
Support
If you feel you are experiencing any of these postpartum mood disorders, please contact a licensed healthcare professional. If you are unsure of where to go for help contacting a OBGYN, midwife or doula for resources and referrals is a great step to get started. Not all professionals are informed on postpartum mood disorders as others, finding a provider that specializes in this area can be beneficial.
Healing
When on the road to healing, there are some things you can do to aid this process. First try connecting with friends of family. You may be surprised at the connections you can form and the comfort in letting them know how you are feeling. I also recommend self care. This can range from taking time for yourself, going for a walk, engaging in hobbies, sitting in the sunlight, eating nourishing meals, proper hydration, etc. The ideas are endless. It can be hard to take the time for yourself when feeling down, caring for a newborn and healing your body physically. Even if it is just 15 minutes, it is a great start. Sitting outside for 15 minutes in the morning sunlight can have spectacular benefits. Going for a light walk with baby in a stroller can also be a great idea. Most babies love the movement of the stroller and it gets you out in the fresh air.
Regardless of your journey and where you are, I promise there is always hope.
*This is not medical advice, if you are seeking medical advice please contact a licensed and trusted healthcare provider*
References:
Baby Blues after pregnancy. March of Dimes. (2021). https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/postpartum/baby-blues-after-pregnancy
Postpartum depression. March of Dimes. (2019). https://www.marchofdimes.org/find-support/topics/postpartum/postpartum-depression
