In the News: Post Partum Depression

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In the News: Post Partum Depression

With the recent case of a Texas mother who allegedly drowned her five children in a bathtub, post-partum depression (PPD) has been in the news. Speaking to the press, her husband claimed that Andrea Yates was suffering from severe PPD, and that was what led her to allegedly commit the tragic act.

Though all the facts are not in, and her motives are not known, many in the media accept that PPD was what drove Ms. Yates over the edge. Only one news story has appeared that states that perhaps PPD was not to blame.

Being a new parent can be overwhelming, it is a mix of joy, excitement, and even a little sadness, as your old way of life becomes part of the past and a new way of life begins. A new baby can turn your world upside down. It is even worse when you lack a support system of family and friends nearby who can lend you a hand. Becoming accustomed to having a tiny person who is completely dependent on you for everything is hard, coupled with lack of sleep; recuperation from labor, delivery or c-section; hormonal changes; frustration with breastfeeding; and the feeling that we have to somehow "do it all" can be a lot to deal with, no matter how many times you go through it.

We do not claim to have any magic answers, or even to know what would lead a mother to believe that killing her children is the only answer. What we would like to do is present the warning signs of the "baby blues," post partum depression, and puerperal psychosis. Perhaps by giving information about these conditions, we can encourage any mother who believes she is suffering to ask for help and seek treatment.

POST PARTUM DEPRESSION

After a woman gives birth, the hormones that her body produced during pregnancy take a while to get back to normal levels. During the first few weeks after delivery, many new mothers will experience feelings of anxiety, sadness, or despair. Some, however, believe that the baby blues are also a result of psychological and societal factors as well.

It is believed that up to 80% of new mothers experience some form of mild depression after giving birth. This is generally referred to as "the baby blues" and usually lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.

The "baby blues" are characterized by:

anxiety
weepiness
moodiness
exhaustion
lack of appetite
irritability
the feeling of being trapped

Many tend to confuse the blues with PPD, because the symptoms are similar. The main difference being time. The blues last only a few days or a few weeks. With PPD, the symptoms last longer, and are more severe. If symptoms persist longer than 3 weeks or seem severe, mothers are encouraged to contact thier healthcare provider and seek treatment.

Many factors can cause the blues to turn into PPD. Some women also "skip" the blues and begin showing symptoms of PPD immediately after giving birth. In most cases, there are external factors which can lead to PPD, such as not having a support system in place; being a single parent; suffering from anxiety or depression during pregnancy; if the pregnancy was unplanned; or an unsatisfying or traumatic birth experience. Major life changes during pregnancy and childbirth such as loss of a job, divorce or separation, a big move, or death of a friend or family member can also contribute to the onset of PPD.

Post-partum depression can occur anytime up to two years after giving birth, and is characterized by:

tiredness
uncontrollable fits of crying or persistent sadness
lack of appetite
sudden feelings of anger
anxiety or panic attacks
negative feelings toward your child(ren) or partner
thoughts of hurting your child(ren) or yourself
strong feelings of inadequacy or guilt
thoughts of suicide

Every woman is different, and some women's symptoms may be more severe than others. A good way to determine if you need treatment is if your condition prevents you from properly caring for your child(ren) or yourself. Also, if you have a history of depression, or if depression runs in your family, there is a chance that you could experience PPD.

In some cases, PPD may be so severe that it becomes puerperal (post-partum) psychosis (PP). PP affects anywhere from 1-3% of mothers, or one in every thousand births. According to some statistics 70% of mothers who experience puerperal psychosis will have shown no prior signs of mental illness. The defining factor of PP is that the patient suffers a break with reality and becomes delusional. She may show signs of PPD, but also have feelings of suspicion and distrust of the people around her. She may also begin to believe that there is something "wrong" with her child(ren).

Puerperal psychosis is also characterized by:

manic symptoms, such as excitement or elation
overactivity
anger or agression
severe depression (sometimes combined with manic episodes)
hallucinations (visual and/or auditory)
delusions
paranoia

Puerperal psychosis can begin anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months after giving birth. There have been very few studies on PP, but preliminary studies seem to indicate that if a mother has suffered from it during one pregnancy there is a 20-25% chance she may suffer from it in subsequent pregnancies. There also seems to be a a 50% risk that an affected woman will suffer a non-puerperal (non childbirth related) psychotic episode. There is a study underway to see if there may be a genetic cause for PP. In rare cases, PP can be brought on when a woman stops breastfeeding.

Puerperal psychosis affects each woman differently, and some cases subside within a few weeks, while others take months. PP is treatable by medication, regular psychiatric care, and for serious cases, hospitalization combined with medication and counseling.

WHAT TO DO

One of the best things that may help prevent PPD is having a support system in place. This means a supportive spouse, friends or family who will help with the many things that a mother needs after the birth of a baby. From helping with household chores, taking care of any older children, breastfeeding support, encouragement, or just listening and being there for her. All of these things help the new mother not feel so overwhelmed, and will also help her get some much needed rest.

Sometimes, though, even help and support may not be enough for some women. If you or someone you know shows symptoms of PPD or PP, the most important thing to do is seek treatment.

THE BIG PICTURE

Relatively little is known about PPD or PP, even though PPD has been around as long as women have been having babies. Perhaps some of the blame may lie with us as well. Many of us buy into society's ideals of what a mother should be. The idea that we can and should be able to "do it all" is unrealistic at best. Many of us, however fall into that trap.

As mothers, we must realize and accept when we need help and not be afraid to ask for it. We should not allow ourselves to be made to feel like failures when we can't do it all. We need to learn to say "I'm not fine" and those around us need to be made to see that there is nothing wrong with not being fine. As mothers, we need to support other mothers.

It is up to us to bring about this change. It is hard work, and for many of us mothers, it's just one more thing on a very long "to do" list, but those of us who can should do our best to help those of us who can't. Maybe by doing so we can save the lives of other mothers who think it's hopeless and they have no other option; and may even be able to prevent tragedies like the one in Texas from occurring again.

Every mother is important, and deserves to be treated that way.

http://www.guerrillagrrls.com/ppd.html

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