How Do You Help Someone With Postpartum Depression – 1 in 5 women experience mental health problems after giving birth, with depression being one of the most common problems.
This page was reviewed by Dr Donna Grant (MBBS, MCRPsych, BSc Hons), Consultant Psychiatrist at Priory Hospital Chelmsford in November 2021.
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How Do You Help Someone With Postpartum Depression
Depression in the postpartum period (in the first year after the birth of the child) is called postpartum depression. It is sometimes called postpartum depression.
Ways To Support People With Postpartum Depression
It is normal to experience many emotions in the first year after giving birth. Becoming a parent is one of the most important life transitions you will experience; It can be the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done, but it can also be one of the most challenging. Sometimes you can feel happy and excited. At other times, you may feel anxious, uncertain, overwhelmed or negative, all of which can be signs of postpartum depression. Postpartum depression doesn’t just affect new mothers; Partners and men can also live.
Postpartum depression has many similarities with other types of depression. The main difference is that your anxious and negative thoughts, which often occur with depression, are often focused on your new baby.
The degree to which symptoms of depression affect your ability to care for your child varies from person to person. Many new mothers continue to take good care of their babies despite their poor health. However, if you have severe postpartum depression, you may need help caring for your baby and other children until you get better.
You don’t have to struggle with a mental health condition; Specialized treatment is available. Get the help you need today by calling 0330 056 6020 or submitting an online inquiry form.
Postpartum Depression Is Real, Sufferers Are Not Alone And Help Is Available, Doctor Says
Unfortunately, in some cases, women, their families and even medical professionals do not realize that new mothers have postpartum depression, which means many women have to wait longer than treatment. Some potential reasons for this include:
Mental health issues can affect anyone in the postpartum period, so don’t be afraid to seek help if you think you may be feeling unwell.
After giving birth, 50-80% of women also experience a period called “baby depression”. This usually starts 3-4 days after birth and resolves within two weeks. Symptoms include:
Baby blues are thought to be due to hormonal changes in the body. However, unlike postpartum depression, baby blues usually resolves without treatment and does not affect your daily activities.
Postpartum Depression And Maternal Mental Health: How Caregivers Can Help
If you’re still experiencing the above symptoms for more than two weeks, you’re dealing with postpartum depression and not the postpartum blues. If this is the case, it is very important to get help.
There is no single cause of postpartum depression. There are many biological, psychological and social factors that can contribute to postpartum depression. Some factors associated with postpartum depression include:
If you’re struggling with low mood and symptoms of depression in the months after giving birth, here are some strategies, thought processes and key principles to keep in mind that can help you cope.
At Priory, we can provide specialist treatment for postnatal depression in a nationwide network of hospitals and health centres. We can also help with antenatal depression (depression during pregnancy).
Common Myths About Postpartum Depression
Your mental health during pregnancy and postpartum is just as important as your physical health during these times. The right treatment will help you maintain the best possible health and enjoy family life.
“People shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it. A lot of people stay home and shut down. I think that’s wrong.”
Depending on the severity of your postpartum depression symptoms, we can offer several different treatment programs:
We can also provide many types of therapy to help you deal with postpartum depression. Including:
How To Support A Mom With Postpartum Depression
The main type of therapy we use to treat postpartum depression is a technique called cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). This helps you change negative thought patterns that are common in postpartum depression. During pregnancy or after giving birth, depression can mean a lack of self-confidence or a negative evaluation as a parent. CBT aims to give you techniques to challenge these thoughts and improve your mood. It can help you feel more confident as a parent and enjoy your pregnancy, baby and other children more.
Antidepressants can be used alone or with CBT to treat antenatal and postpartum depression. If your depression gets worse, or if your depression doesn’t improve with talk therapy, that means you need an antidepressant.
There are many types of antidepressants. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are most commonly used to treat depression during pregnancy and postpartum. These help restore the balance of brain chemicals that regulate mood and emotions. You may need to start taking antidepressants before you become pregnant or during pregnancy or after giving birth.
Regardless, you should discuss the safety of antidepressants during pregnancy and breastfeeding with your doctor. Your doctor will help you weigh the benefits of this type of treatment in your case. If you are taking any antidepressants during pregnancy, it is important not to stop taking them without first consulting a specialist.
Natural Remedies For Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression can have a huge impact on the fun times of your life. It is important to remember that postpartum depression is completely treatable, and with the help of a specialist you can get back to enjoying family life.
To find out more about how Priory can support your mental health and wellbeing, call us on 0330 056 6020 or click here to submit an inquiry form. For professionals wanting a referral, click here Postpartum depression (PPD) is an underlying condition. I almost lost it. About a month ago I visited a close friend who had just given birth to her first child. As I held her little boy, she let out a perfect little yawn and my heart melted. “You won’t believe what he did,” I yelled as my friend came out of his bedroom. “It was the cutest thing!” I hoped to go to him and investigate the beauty I had just seen. Instead, she threw up her hands in an “I can’t even do it,” shuffled to the kitchen to get some Advil, and went back to bed.
Although I didn’t say it out loud, my judgment blinded me to what her lack of joy really represented. A few months later, he was diagnosed with PPD and I realized how completely protected I was.
In those first weeks and months, new mothers need a lot of support. A large number of them – 7.5%, according to Health Canada – experience symptoms of depression during postpartum fatigue. As soon as I realized my mistake, I took some night babysitting shifts so my friends could rest and help out whenever I could. Whether you are a friend, sibling, or neighbor of a mother with PPD, here are some ways to help.
Postpartum Depression Devotional
1. Talk about him, not the baby When you visit, don’t just ask about the baby. “Tell yourself, ‘I need to let this interaction go as it really feels,'” says Stacy Thomas, a Toronto-based psychologist who specializes in women’s mental health. That means being there (more than once!) to listen and talk about it. You you also shouldn’t talk more than her.Be sure to share her feelings, even if they don’t make a lot of sense.
“Let her know she can have two conflicting emotions at once,” adds Carol Peat, an educator and employment support provider in London, Ontario. “She may love this little person with all her heart, but today she feels like she’s huge.” Your job is not to make those feelings go away; it’s to make you feel heard.
2. Don’t try to solve their problems We often try to cheer others up by discussing their feelings. But comments like, “What are you talking about? You are a wonderful mother! it’s really counterproductive. “She’s not going to feel like she’s a great mom,” says Greer Slyfield Cook, a social worker in the Reproductive Life Stages program at Women’s College Hospital. “Instead, it invalidates his emotions and may even lead to feelings of guilt.” Instead, address the mother’s concerns with statements like “You seem really worried” or “That must be really hard.” If you’ve had anxiety or depression in the past, even if it wasn’t related to your pregnancy, tell your story to show you understand what she’s going through. Because women often feel alone when dealing with depression, it can be helpful to hear other women share their experiences.
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