Recently, the number of patients coming to the clinic for postpartum depression has increased compared to the past, which means that the prevalence of postpartum depression is increasing, and postpartum depression will cast an inescapable shadow on the family that has just experienced the joy brought by the arrival of a child, and even make the child who has just come into the world lose its mother forever. “!
Causes of postpartum depression
1, the impact of endocrine changes
In late pregnancy, the estrogen progesterone, corticosteroid and thyroxine in pregnant women’s bodies are increased to varying degrees, and pregnant women will have a happy and pleasant feeling, but after the birth of a child, these hormones decline rapidly, causing endocrine changes in the body, resulting in depressive symptoms.
2.Maternal or baby sickness
The extreme stress caused by illness can induce depression. Premature birth, puerperal diseases or comorbidities bring great pressure to the mother, which can easily induce postpartum depression. The baby’s illness is a psychological burden to the first-time mother, resulting in depression.
3. Pressure from family members
Husband or other relatives are not satisfied with the sex of the child, as well as the husband’s poor performance easily bring pressure and aggravation to the maternal emotions.
4, poor sleep
Many women in labor are on their own with their children no matter day and night, and are prone to aggravation, irritability and irritability.
5, economic reasons
Some families may not be very generous financially, worry about life after having a child, resulting in depression.
6.Social and psychological factors
Some people are not fully prepared for motherhood and rush to get pregnant, once they become a mother they will not know where to start, both new and fearful. Especially the post-80s young people, their psychological age is immature, they are still children, still pampered in front of their parents, suddenly they have to take on the responsibility of motherhood, will be very uncomfortable, easy to produce psychological imbalance. Others have suffered from depression before giving birth, and are more likely to have a relapse of depression after giving birth.
What is postpartum depression?
While postpartum depression is common – some experts estimate that about 50 to 90 percent of women suffer from varying degrees of postpartum depression – most women can resolve it on their own after a period of time, but some severe cases that do not recover on their own require medical help. Some women even develop postpartum psychosis quickly, so if a woman is found to have severe postpartum depression, she should always be advised to see a specialist for consultation and treatment.
If the following severe postpartum depression symptoms are found, it is important to seek help and treatment from a specialist immediately
1. Significant depressive symptoms that severely interfere with daily life and the inability to care for the baby.
2. Feeling extremely tired and having severe insomnia.
3.Feeling hopeless and helpless.
4. Feeling lost, unmotivated, and disinterested in yourself and your family.
5.Have the urge to hurt the baby or do not want to take care of the baby.
6.Suicidal tendency.
Treatment of postpartum depression
Postpartum depression should be treated in different ways according to different categories and severity. Almost all women who suffer from postpartum depression can recover after treatment.
Medication
The choice of antidepressant medication should vary from person to person. The first choice is pentothalamine reuptake inhibitors, which have fewer side effects and better treatment compliance. Antipsychotic medications should also be used in combination with atypical antipsychotic medications if maternal symptoms of hallucinations, hallucinations, and delusions are present. Although long-term follow-up is not available and there are currently no reports of physical effects on the child from taking these medications, we do not advocate their use in breastfeeding women. With treatment almost all women who suffer from postpartum depression are able to recover.
Psychotherapy
For most patients, the symptoms of postpartum depression will disappear naturally over time and everything will return to normal.
The following suggestions can help you get through the postpartum depression smoothly.
Accept help from others, or take the initiative to seek help from others.
Try to rest or take a nap while the baby is sleeping.
Go out to dinner or a movie with your husband so that your mind and body can relax as much as possible. Or have dinner and talk with a good friend.
Don’t put too many demands on yourself and lower your expectations of yourself.
Talk about your feelings and sensations to your husband, family, and friends.
Exercise (if your doctor allows it) to get your strength back as soon as possible.
Learn to relax – read a book, take a bath, watch a video, or find something else to do that interests you.
Stick to a healthy, regular diet.
Postpartum depression: not only affects maternal health and endangers the mother and baby, but also affects marriage, family and society. Therefore, postpartum depression should be given full attention. First of all, we should strengthen perinatal health care for pregnant women to help them prepare physiologically and psychologically to pass the pregnancy safely and healthily. For pregnant women with high-risk factors, both medical staff and families should pay full attention to them, provide more help, and assist in adjusting their psychological state and reducing the possible psychological stress. At the same time, the role of social support system should be brought into play, especially education and guidance for husbands to improve the relationship between husband and wife, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to improve the family life environment. If the mother has obvious symptoms of depression to seek medical attention as soon as possible, consult a psychiatrist to avoid unnecessary human tragedies.