How To Guide For: Everything You Need To Know About Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression also called Postnatal Depression is depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue. Postpartum depression affects approximately 15% of all childbearing women. Many women feel ashamed if they are not coping and so may conceal their difficulties. Postpartum Depression is a serious problem that disrupts women's lives and can have effects on the baby, other children, her partner, and other relationships. Postpartum depression is often divided into two types: early onset and late onset. Early onset most often seems like the "blues," a mild brief experience during the first days or weeks after birth. During the first week after the birth up to 80% of mothers will experience the "baby blues." This is usually a time of extra sensitivity and symptoms include irritability, anxiety, and mood changes, which tend to peak between three to five days after childbirth. The symptoms normally disappear within two weeks without requiring specific treatment. Late onset appears several weeks after the birth. This involves a slowly growing feeling of sadness, depression, lack of energy, chronic tiredness, inability to sleep, change in appetite, significant weight loss or gain, and difficulty caring for the baby. So why does Postpartum Depression happen. Postpartum Depression can be caused by a combination of nature and nurture. It's not known exactly what causes Postpartum Depression, but that it is very common. Many experts believe that a combination of factors such as hormonal changes that happen after having a baby, social factors, emotional and psychological factors can play a role. The bottom line is that Postpartum Depression is very serious and there is help available. To get more in depth information on Postpartum Depression and why it occurs click on the pictures below to read the articles.