Causes And Risk Factors For Postpartum Depression
The problem may still occur during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. But according to a specialist, “the peaks most at risk of developing postpartum depression are: 30/40 days after delivery, Third month, Sixth month and one year, he concluded.
According to research, the causes of postpartum depression are multifactorial. That is, they involve physical, psychic and social factors. In addition, we also know that the higher the expectation, the greater the idealization with the baby, the greater the risk of depression. Among the common causes are:
Rapid fall of hormones postpartum.
High expectations associated with maternity and postpartum.
Personal history of depression, depressive or anxious episode during gestation.
Pregnancy highly desirable or requiring treatment such as artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.
Failure of social support – insufficient or poor support network.
Obstetric complications and / or premature delivery.
History of sexual abuse or conflict with the mother.
Conflicts in the marital relationship.
Unwanted pregnancy
Low self esteem.
But it is important to differentiate a postpartum sadness from depression. This varies according to the time and intensity of the symptoms and feelings involved. In depression, it is very common the feeling of powerlessness and incapacity. In postpartum sadness, the most common feeling of estrangement. This sadness tends to last for 15 or 20 days and ends naturally. Postpartum depression tends to arise after that and requires interventions.
How to treat postpartum depression
As soon as the woman or companion realizes that something is off the hook, help should be requested. Any moment is a moment to ask for help, even if it is only purperal sadness, after all, this phase of the puerperium is extremely painful, delicate and sometimes solitary, but it need not always be so.
In addition, the sooner you seek help, the greater the chances of remission of the disease in the beginning and more chance of success in treatment.
Often, the first professional who identifies or suspects of maternal depression is the obstetrician or pediatrician. They are the ones who make the referral to both psychiatrists and psychologists, who are qualified professionals to make the diagnosis.
Treatments are different for each type of depression. There is the mildest, the most moderate, the severe and the severe. The last two cases require joint psychological and psychiatric monitoring. The moderate one depends on the case. For most women with mild depression, psychotherapy is sufficient.
When medications are needed, even the woman who breastfeeds can do her treatment without risk to the baby. There are several medications that are completely compatible with breastfeeding, including breastfeeding on demand. In such cases, however, she needs to be accompanied by a psychiatrist who understands well the pregnancy-puerperal cycle and child development, or to have a good pediatrician supporting her treatment and counseling the accompanying psychiatrist on the indicated medications.
It is also very effective to participate in the wheels of mothers, psychotherapy (individual, family or group), physical activity, balanced eating.
The idea is to prepare the woman for the exercise of motherhood and for the arrival of the baby, working all the transformations involved, from their potentialities and possible difficulties.
Support from family and close friends after the birth of the baby is also important. “The first tip for the family is patience. The second, my love. This woman needs to be and feel loved, respected and welcomed by the family. Judgments do not help at this time.
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