According to statistics, 10% to 15% of women will develop postpartum depression (that is, about 1 out of 10 mothers, at least 1 will get this disease), and 50% to 80% will experience postpartum depression.
The most significant difference between postpartum depression and postpartum depression is that postpartum depression meets the diagnostic criteria of a disease and is a disease that has to be treated, while postpartum depression is a mood, a state, that needs to be prevented from progressing.
You may say, the incidence rate should not be so high, I rarely heard of depression among my sisters. In fact, the incidence of postpartum depression is very high in Europe and America. Why haven’t we heard much about postpartum depression? Besides factors such as regional culture, a very important reason is that many postpartum depressions are not detected in time, or the illness brings shame and is hidden.
In China, obstetricians and gynecologists and mothers focus first on physical health after delivery and largely ignore mental health. Simply put, the lack of attention in the country has resulted in less detection and seemingly low morbidity. On the other hand, one of the big problems faced by those who suffer from depression is the stigma of the illness. Even if a woman finds out she has postpartum depression, it is not as easy as saying she has a cold. To most people, admitting that they have depression is like admitting that they are crazy. So just because you haven’t heard of postpartum depression, doesn’t mean it doesn’t really happen.
Some research studies on postpartum depression have found that poor family relationships, marital problems during pregnancy and postpartum, major life changes, lack of family support, and thyroid dysfunction are all triggers for postpartum depression. In addition, if you have suffered from depression or have a family history of depression, you need to guard against postpartum depression even more.
I. Postpartum depression has the following characteristics.
1. depressed mood, which simply means bad mood.
2. a marked lack of interest in all or most activities, especially those in which one had an interest.
3. significant weight loss or gain.
4. insomnia or excessive sleepiness.
5. psychomotor excitement or blockage, which simply means laziness and weakness.
6, fatigue or weakness.
7. A sense of meaninglessness or guilt in all matters.
8. Decreased thinking power or inattentiveness, which simply means trance.
9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
If a new mother feels depressed or sad and has at least 5 out of 1 to 9 symptoms, and the symptoms last for more than 2 weeks, and she feels pain and her ability to take care of the child, do housework and work is affected, she can be considered as having postpartum depression, and it is recommended to go to a psychiatric department of a general hospital or a psychiatric hospital to prevent the condition from developing further and even tragedies that may harm herself or her baby.
Among these symptoms, the most common are lack of interest, sadness, self-blame and guilt, and despair, and as family members and friends, you must pay extra attention to these manifestations. If a woman around you confesses that she doesn’t want to live anymore and has no hope for the future, don’t take it as a joke, take her to the hospital!
Second, medication, will it affect breastfeeding?
For postpartum depression, early diagnosis and treatment is needed. Generally speaking, the treatment of postpartum depression is mainly medication.
Many new mothers worry that taking medication while breastfeeding will affect their children, but breastfeeding and antidepressant medication are not mutually exclusive. The new generation of antidepressants has very low concentrations in the infant, some even below the lower limit of detection. For breastfeeding mothers suffering from postpartum depression, please inform your psychiatrist about your situation, who will choose safe medication according to the principle of individualization.
Besides, it is necessary to cooperate with psychotherapy to correct irrational ideas or to reconcile family relationships, etc. Some mild to moderate depressions can even be treated without the choice of medication.
However, given the identification and treatment of postpartum depression in China, many people simply do not realize that they have the disease when their depression is mild to moderate, let alone treat it. Many are sent to the hospital for treatment only when they progress to the point of very severe suicide or self-injury. By this time, the patient needs to be admitted to the hospital to prevent tragedy.
And most importantly, don’t stop taking your medication because you think your symptoms have subsided! Unless the doctor agrees to stop the medication after evaluation. Do not stop the medication just because it is not working well. You should know that antidepressants usually take more than 2 weeks to take effect.
Third, how to prevent postpartum depression?
Because of the high incidence of postpartum depression, prevention becomes the key. The following are some practical suggestions.
Join a maternal self-help group where people talk and support each other to help solve each other’s problems. If you are limited by many factors such as time and geography, you can choose online self-help groups, such as QQ groups and WeChat groups. Attending maternity school training can help solve some problems during pregnancy and after delivery. New mothers are able to take care of their babies and adapt to the changing social roles more comfortably.
Pay attention to regulating emotions and stress, don’t overwork, and learn about postpartum depression so that early diagnosis and treatment can be made to nip the disease in the bud. Proper exercise can prevent postpartum depression, such as running, yoga, etc.
For mothers with a history of depression and family history, they need to be more aware of the risk of developing depression at all times, and it is recommended to keep in touch with a psychiatrist for regular follow-up visits.
As relatives, on the one hand, we should try to create a good and harmonious family environment, listen patiently and communicate actively; on the other hand, we should have the knowledge to identify postpartum depression. If a woman is suffering from postpartum depression, she may not be aware of it herself, but it is up to her relatives or friends to be more careful. When the first signs of depression are detected, it is important to go to the hospital with the mother and supervise her treatment.