Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

A family was struck with a tragedy in Houston this
past week. A mother who had been depressed for some time killed her two
month old baby. The details are complicated and will have to be sorted
out for the next two weeks, but the baby is dead and mom is in jail
without bail. A family lost a son, grandson, and brother. Although it is
not known exactly what type of depression the mother suffered after the
birth of her baby (postpartum depression or postpartum depression and
psychosis), she did murder her baby and was suffering for some time with
depression.

Baby blues is very common and many women have this after a baby. The
blues usually consists of being tired and overwhelmed, lack of sleep,
and missing your old life. They come and go within a couple of days
after the baby and they are mild. Many women report feeling this and it
is usually due to the changes in your life style caused by a baby’s
presence. Both mom and dad can feel a bit blue, but it is usually more
characteristic for mom and completely normal.

When baby blues grows more intense or lasts longer than two weeks, we
get more concerned with postpartum depression. Postpartum depression
does not go away and you need to seek assistance. Your family doctor is a
good place to start. A doctor may want to run several tests before
referring you to a psychiatrist because many times illnesses may also be
present with depression. A psychiatrist will then evaluate your
symptoms and request information from you regarding your family history.
Many times when women get postpartum depression they come from a family
that has depression or they personally have suffered from depression in
the past. The symptoms for postpartum depression are as follows and
they have gone on for more than two weeks and have intensified:

Feeling restless or moody.
Feeling sad, hopeless, and over whelmed.
Crying a lot.
Having no energy or motivation.
Eating too much or too little.
Sleeping too little or too much.
Having trouble focusing or making decisions.
Feeling worthless or guilty.
Losing interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy.
Having headaches, aches and pains, or stomach problems that don’t go
away.
Having unrealistic feelings, like you have to be perfect or you are
failing.
Loss of who you were before the baby or beginning to feel less
attractive.

Postpartum depression can be caused by many things after the birth of
your baby. It may be brought on by the stress of caring for the new baby
or dealing with money issues, a bad marriage, or simply anxiety about
life. Hormonal changes after the pregnancy can trigger depression.
Medical problems can cause postpartum depression. During the postpartum
stage women are vulnerable. It is a stressful time and although everyone
is excited about the new life, it is difficult to be enthusiastic if
you are lacking sleep, feeling stressed, or constantly in a state of
anxiety. If you are concerned about the mother of your child or your
friend who just had a baby, these are possible ways for you to help.
Dads especially have a big responsibility during the postpartum time. If
there are signs of depression you are usually the first to know. If you
are concerned, ask her if she is considering harming herself or the
baby. She will not be offended and you will not put the idea in her
head. You will give her a sense of relief that you understand how
difficult this time is for her and you are there to help her rather than
judge her.

Ways to help the new mom if you are worried about her being depressed:

Make a doctor’s appointment and go with her. Have someone babysit the
baby so you can help tell the doctor what you are seeing. When women are
depressed they become confused and may lose their memory. Having you
there to discuss her condition with the doctor will help to reassure her
and will provide a more complete history.
Help her to find time to sleep as much as possible. When a new mom
doesn’t get the sleep she needs, she becomes irritable and moody. We all
need sleep to revitalize ourselves. It is impossible to care for a
newborn if you cannot find the time to rest your own body.
If the doctor puts her on medication make sure she is taking the right
dosage. Lack of sleep and depression can lead to memory lapses and she
may forget to take the medicine.
The best treatment for depression is medication and counseling. A
counselor will add emotional support for her and help her make a plan to
take care of herself as well as the baby. She may want you to attend
counseling with her. This can be invaluable when dealing with postpartum
depression.
Hire someone to care for the baby or ask a family member to help at
least a couple of hours a day so your wife can get out of the house and
meet with friends. Many women will not do this unless it is prescribed
or set up. They feel guilty when taking time for themselves. Sharing
with other moms how you are feeling is not only healing, it is necessary
(one of the first symptoms of depression is social isolation).
Reassure your wife or friend that even if she is suffering from
postpartum depression she is still a good mom. Depression is a mental
illness, it is not her fault. Tell her how much you respect that she was
brave enough to go to the doctor and engage in counseling. These are
both signs that she is putting the needs of her baby first by taking
care of herself.
Lastly, if you believe your wife or friend is depressed and she will not
get the care she needs, make sure the baby is safe with someone and
take her to the emergency room or call 911. You may think it is over
reacting, but depression does kill and you cannot re-think your decision
if she hurts herself or her baby.

Postpartum depression is real and it does happen. The best time to
understand the symptoms and have a plan is before the birth of your
child. Couples who talk about this prior to the birth of their baby are
more comfortable talking sharing if they feel depressed after the birth.
Be proactive, if you are a new mom or soon to be mom, talk to your
husband or partner now regarding baby blues and postpartum depression.
The life you save may be yours or your baby. –Mary Jo Rapini-

For more information go to: www.maryjorapini.com

It's not just new moms who get postpartum depression. More than one
in 10 fathers become depressed after the birth of their child, too,
according to a new study that researchers said underscores the need for
more awareness of men's depression.
Postpartum depression in
mothers has been well-recognized, but much less attention has been
focused on how new fathers fare. That's because women are usually the
primary care givers and postpartum depression was considered a condition
likely linked to hormonal changes in pregnancy. Experts say treating
depression, whether it's in the mother or father, is important because
it raises the risk for long-term behavioral and psychiatric problems in
the child.
Researchers from the Eastern Virginia Medical School
in Norfolk sought to get an accurate estimate for what percentage of men
experience depression in the year after their child was born, using
commonly accepted depression measures. They conducted a statistical
review of 43 previously published studies involving 28,000 male and
female adults.
Some 10.4% of fathers experience depression during
the postpartum period, the analysis showed. In the general population,
4.8% of men are believed depressed at any given point in time, according
to government data.
For women, the rate of postpartum depression
was estimated at nearly 24%, according to the new analysis, which was
published Tuesday in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical
Association.
"When we look at the impact on families and children
[of depression in new fathers], this is a public-health problem that
goes beyond the individual," said James Paulson, a child clinical
psychologist and pediatrics professor at Eastern Virginia and the first
author on the paper.
The reasons for paternal postpartum
depression are likely similar to those that contribute to the condition
in mothers, including sleep deprivation, stress in the parents'
relationship and isolation from friends, Dr. Paulson said.
For
women who have a past history of any kind of depression there is a
higher risk of developing postpartum depression, said Susan
Nolen-Hoeksema, a depression expert and psychology professor at Yale
University who wasn't involved in the current study.
Men's
postpartum depression may manifest differently than women's, said Dr.
Nolen-Hoeksema. In general, depressed men are more likely to exhibit
hostility and even aggression, whereas women who are depressed tend to
become sad.
"You would worry not only about the general atmosphere
it [the father's depression] creates, but also potential abuse," said
Dr. Nolen-Hoeksema.
Studies that have examined the impact of
parental depression on offspring show roughly a doubling of the risk of
behavioral and emotional problems in children, according to Paul
Ramchandani, a fellow in the child-psychiatry department at the
University of Oxford in England who wasn't involved in the present
study.
He notes, though, that many if not most children whose
parents have depression "manage very well and have very normal
development."
For Rob Sandler, 38, a medical device sales
representative in Houston, the unexpected depression he felt after the
birth of his son two years ago felt "like a slap in the face." He and
his wife were excited to be parents and Mr. Sandler wanted to be a
hands-on father.
But shortly after his son's birth, Mr. Sandler
knew that he wasn't himself.
Instead of bonding with the baby,
Mr. Sandler said he felt overwhelmed and a sense of being trapped. He
began leaving for work earlier than he needed to and stayed later before
coming home. He lost his appetite, cried more than usual and felt
anxiety and guilt, all classic signs of depression.
After several
weeks, Mr. Sandler said he decided to see a counselor and began taking
antidepressants, which brought some relief almost immediately. He
stopped taking medication when his son turned 1 year old, and he
continues to check in with his counselor about once a month to make sure
he stays on track.
Many men aren't as willing as Mr. Sandler to
seek help, according to Will Courtenay, a psychologist in Oakland,
Calif., who runs a website on male postpartum depression at www.postpartummen.com.
But trying to "nip this in the bud or prevent" depression is key, he
said.