Postpartum depression. How to get rid of postpartum dipression

A happy and smiling woman with a newborn child in her arms - this is how motherhood is portrayed in books, in paintings, in the cinema. However, almost every woman has to overcome postpartum depression. In some, it manifests itself stronger, in others weaker. And so that a woman can really experience the true happiness of motherhood, you need to know everything about postpartum depression and be able to cope with her.

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What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is called special disorders of the psychological, mental and emotional state of a woman in which she can be after the birth of a child. In a slight form, it manifests itself as a bad mood, constant spleen. In more severe cases - nervous breakdowns, hysteria, phobias, psychoses. Postpartum depression can last from 2 months to 1.5-2 years.

Doctors say that every woman immediately after childbirth experiences not only a physical breakdown, but also emotional exhaustion. Childbirth is always stress for the body. Of the 10 giving birth to 7, this type of depression has this type of depression.

Studies have shown that the psycho -emotional state of mothers is reflected in children. During the early formation, the psyche of babies is especially vulnerable. In a child of a woman suffering from postpartum depression, nervous disorders may also appear. This entails a lot of problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to help a young mother overcome such a difficult condition.

Causes of postpartum depression

The first messengers of postpartum depression may appear on the eve of childbirth. At this time, a woman has a feeling of anxiety and excitement, physiological changes in the body are being prepared for childbearing. The process of childbirth is a large load on the organs of the expectant mother, as well as on her emotional state. This all provokes the appearance of postpartum depression, which begins to develop during the first days and months after the birth of a child.

The ailment may not appear immediately, but after time. Due to the fact that many are not seriously related to postpartum depression and do not turn to specialists for help, a woman may be in this condition and a year after childbirth.

Doctors and psychologists call several basic reasons for the appearance of postpartum depression:

The level of hormones at the time when the mother is bearing the child, in her body increases almost ten times. After giving birth, it decreases sharply and after a few days it returns to normal. Such hormonal jumps do not pass without a trace for the body.
The heredity of the mother, who adopted from her parents, the features of response to stressful situations. If the girl was often subject to stress, and her body and psyche could not resist them, then childbirth almost always leads to depression.
Lack of time and possibilities for recovery after childbirth. Returning from the hospital, the woman immediately plunges into the household vanity. She should not only have time to take care of the child, but also cook food for the family, clean, wash. All this alternates with sleepless nights. In addition, in the first month after birth, some women continue to experience physical pain. The body has not managed to recover does not withstand such a load.

Problems with lactation. Breastfeeding gives the mother certain difficulties. For example, the constant need to express during the day and night, pain during lactation, the appearance of stagnation of milk.
The psychological unpreparedness of the girl to the role of mother. This happens to those who did not give birth before. After the appearance of the child, the young mother understands that she is forced to completely change her life and abandon something. It is unwillingness to do this and the load of new duties annoy it, lead to tantrums and scandals.
External changes in the figure of a woman. Some upset stretch marks on the abdomen after childbirth, others strain extra pounds that have appeared. If a woman was very reverent to her appearance before childbirth, then for her such changes will be just a blow. In particularly imaginary, self -esteem decreases even during pregnancy, when the proportions of the body change significantly. Therefore, a woman is impatiently awaits childbirth, and when after them she cannot return to previous forms, she falls into depression.
Sexual relations with a partner. Not every woman quickly recovers after childbirth and resumes a full -fledged intimate life. On the one hand, she may experience temporary apathy for sex, on the other hand, she will worry that her husband does not receive attention and affection. Such a dual state negatively affects the psyche of a woman.
The state of loneliness. It appears when a young mother does not receive support, warmth and care from her parents and her husband. The woman feels that no one needs, she has no one to seek help. Conflicts and quarrels in the family negatively affects.
Lack of sleep and rest. The emotional state and the weakening of the physical forces of the body occur.

The influence of postpartum depression on the child

Postpartum depression not only affects the woman, but also on her child. And if a mother can overcome this ailment and return to the usual rhythm of life, then for the baby the consequences can leave a mark on life. The development of the child in the first months lays the foundation for his future character, a psychological state. Watching the children whose mothers suffered from postpartum depression, psychologists made the following conclusions:

Mother can refuse to breastfeed the baby. In this case, the baby loses its natural nutrition and has to be transferred to the artificial. Although it is breast milk that allows you to form immunity in a newborn.
If the mother, being in postpartum depression, does not seek to spend time with the child and deprives him of love and affection, then the baby has a slowdown in development, sleep disturbance, nervous state. In the future, he may have a dispression location.

Due to the lack of normal contact with the mother, the child’s concentration is violated, and difficulties with speech appear. The emotional state of the child suffers, which can subsequently grow a closed, fearful, uncertain person.
In a severe form of postpartum depression, the mother can be a threat to the life of the child. Some women consider children the cause of problems with the figure, quarrels with her husband, violations of the usual way of life. If a woman has symptoms of aggression, then in this state she becomes dangerous for the baby.

Symptoms of postpartum depression of women

In each woman, the manifestations of postpartum depression are individual. The causes of the disease, as well as the physical, psychological, emotional state of the mother, are important. The main symptoms of postpartum depression:

Constant bad mood, lack of positive emotions.
Irritability. Scandals, screams, tears.
Weakness and sluggish condition for a long time.
Feeling guilt that does not leave a woman alone.
An unreasonable sense of fear for the child. Panic. The appearance of phobias.
Very low self -esteem, obsessive discontent with their own appearance.
Constant insomnia. An excited state for a long time.
The lack of interest in what used to please.
Constant pains of various types.
Bad or excessive appetite.
Closure, unwillingness to communicate with friends, relatives.
Lack of interest in the child.
Unwillingness to live.

Postpartum depression in men

The opinion that postpartum depression can only be in women are erroneous. In fact, the life of men also changes after the appearance of a child in the family. On the shoulders of the young father lies care of both his wife and the newborn. Not everyone manages to cope with this burden. Postpartum depression may appear in a man in such situations:

The attention of a woman is completely belongs to the child. The husband feels his uselessness. He sees that he does not care, and cannot cope with a sense of loneliness. Some men have a wife's jealousy for a child. In this case, the father practically does not communicate with the baby.
The man who is used to rest in the evenings in the evenings, now cannot do this and does not get enough sleep at night due to emotional stress. Some husbands stop rushing into the family after a hard day, they are burdened by the home environment.
An increase in financial costs associated with the advent of a child in the family. This is especially influenced by those who did not think before the birth of how much the family budget will grow.
Lack of sexual life or problems with it after childbirth. It is difficult for a man to understand that a woman needs time to restore not only a physical state, but also emotional. The cause of the spouses, associated with concern for the newborn, may also be the cause.
Undetered self -esteem. The young father does not know how to handle the baby and feels powerlessness in this matter. Daily stressful situations in the family drive him into a dead end, and the husband does not see a way out of this situation.
Inability or unwillingness to take responsibility for your family. Removal from solving household problems.

Overcoming postpartum depression

If the symptoms of postpartum depression have already appeared, then they need to be taken carefully and immediately take measures. Domestication will worsen the situation and lead to a severe form of depression. To overcome the symptoms of postpartum depression, you need:

Find assistants who will free the young mother from part of the care of childcare and household chores. Grandmothers or other relatives cope with this role perfectly. If the family lives away from them, then you should hire an assistant.
The young mother needs to allocate time for herself - going to the beauty salon, cafe, pool or shopping. For this, at least 2 hours is enough 2-3 times a week.
Frank conversations will help a woman speak out and get moral support from loved ones. In such conversations, she cannot be reproached for any failures in caring for a child. A woman needs support and kind words.
A man should be understood with the fact that a woman cannot yet recover for an intimate life. The wife needs not a categorical “no”, but a mild explanation of the situation in which it is emphasized that she still loves her husband.
The husband should especially support his wife in the postpartum period - to tell her pleasant words, complements, to emphasize how he appreciates her beloved. You should not remind her that she has recovered or somehow changed externally. After a while, the woman will recover and her appearance will return to normal.

Despite the fact that a woman has little time for her husband, he should also feel her love and care. If he has jealousy for the child and a feeling of loneliness, only the wife can cope with this.
A woman should get enough sleep, so part of the night worries about the baby need to take on her husband or relatives.
A married couple needs to find time for joint communication. You can ask relatives to sit with a child, and at this time to go to a cafe or movie.
It is necessary to change the diet of a mother in depression. Add products with calcium and vitamin C.
Try to avoid monotony in daily troubles. It is it that methodically inhibits positive emotions.
If you yourself cannot cope with postpartum depression, do not hesitate to seek help from a family psychologist.

Treatment of postpartum depression

When you tried all the methods, but postpartum depression does not pass, you need to consult a doctor and undergo treatment. First you need to take all the tests, check the level of hormones in the body. Antidepressants can be prescribed as a treatment. The main condition is their compatibility with lactation.

It is also worth contacting a nutritionist who will help to make a diet for a nursing mother so that she can receive a sufficient amount of nutrients, vitamins, and trace elements.

In some cases, psychotherapy sessions may be needed. So the behavior and way of thinking of a woman are adjusted. At this moment, the support and understanding of loved ones is especially important for her.

How to avoid postpartum depression?

The family that is preparing for the appearance of the child should know about such a phenomenon as postpartum depression. You need to read about it in advance and immediately discuss the methods of preventing the situation. This follows:

There were cases of postpartum depression in your relatives and what symptoms were manifested. After that, you can consult a doctor or psychotherapist.
A young mother should be very attentive to her condition. If a sense of fear, anxiety, nervous state appears before childbirth, then it is already worth taking measures and consult a doctor or psychologist.
Even if a woman feels well, it will not be superfluous to visit a family psychologist with her husband. He will give useful tips and warn the possible appearance of postpartum depression.
Take care to the birth of household problems. In the house, everything should be prepared for daily child care.
Try to collect a certain amount of money, which will be a margin in case of financial difficulties in the postpartum period.
You will enlist the support of relatives and discuss in advance with them what they can help while caring for the baby.

Postpartum depression