Several years ago, I was singing the baby blues. I had just delivered our first kid, a beautiful little baby girl and by the time we brought her home I was filled with a wave of emotions. I remember being so upset with myself… My husband and I had been married without children for five years! During this time, we traveled, went on last minute adventures, and had nothing tying us down. After we had our daughter, I couldn’t see her as our new adventure but just as the reason our fun and carefree life was ending. It wasn’t as if she was an unplanned pregnancy; we had been trying for a while to have a baby. There was just this disconnect between me and her. I worried that my husband would blame me for “ruining his life”. I cried every night after I put her to bed, thinking about how tired I was and how things were never going to be the same. People would come over to see the new addition to the family and I would just get so overwhelmed. I thought, “Will they notice how depressed I am?” or “Will they see that I ‘m not bonding with my baby like I’m supposed to?” I felt like I was drowning with no hope, and no end in sight while my mind raced at the thought of “What will happen if this doesn’t go away… or gets worse?” Afraid of what was going to happen I decided to talk to my husband about my feelings one night; I told him, “please don’t think bad of me” as I explained my situation. It’s now been four years and I still remember how he listened, hugged me and said, “these are normal feelings and they will get better. You just have to keep talking about it with me” (Great guy, right?!). It wasn’t long after we talked that I started to feel better. The worry and sadness started to wash away and I began feeling hopeful and happy. That time of my life was scary and when we got pregnant with our second, I feared it would all happen again and maybe this time it would be worse. Thankfully, I had no baby blues with my newborn baby boy. My only regret was that I wished I could have bonded immediately with my daughter as much as I did with my son, but postpartum depression was something I could not control. I survived it just like so many others out there. Life gets better and being a mother is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

The three most common disorders include baby blues (BB), postpartum depression (PPD), and postpartum anxiety (PPA). BB are the least severe of the postpartum mood disorders. Occurring in 50 to 75 percent of women after childbirth, it can develop within the first week of giving birth and typically lasts one to two weeks. Women with BB have mood swings that include feelings of being overwhelmed and the need to cry. Luckily, good sleep and a support system, such as family and friends to talk to, can help alleviate it. PPD, occurring in 15 percent of births, consists of more debilitating symptoms to include withdrawing from family and friends and having no interest in the baby. Sometimes alongside PPD, PPA (occurring in 10 percent) can occur. The feeling of impending fear that something bad is going to happen, racing thoughts, and panic attacks are some of the more common symptoms of PPA. These three most common disorders should be taken seriously, no matter how severe the symptoms. Treatment begins by talking to someone.

According to Women’s Health (2015), for most women, postpartum depression symptoms are not significantly debilitating. The symptoms can go away on their own within a week or two or resolved by speaking with a trained health professional. However, there are a few more serious mood disorders that require immediate attention and possible medicinal intervention. One of which, postpartum obsessive-compulsive-disorder (PPOCD), occurs in three to five percent of women. An individual suffering from PPOCD becomes overly occupied with keeping their baby safe. They feel compelled to do things over and over again, like cleaning a bottle repeatedly and they can even begin to fear alone time with the child. Another disorder, postpartum traumatic stress disorder (PPTSD), occurs in one to six percent of women who had a real or perceived trauma during childbirth (i.e. emergency c-section). Nightmares, flashbacks and hypervigilance are some of the many symptoms these women can experience. The last and most severe postpartum disorder is called postpartum psychosis (PPP). PPP occurs in less than one percent of women and can occur very sudden. Symptoms can include bizarre behavior, suicidal thoughts, and hallucinations. In some cases, women have thoughts of hurting their baby. PPP is a medical emergency that requires immediate action. It’s important to seek help immediately if one experiences any of the PPP symptoms.

Postpartum depression and it’s six subcategories range from mild to severe. Whether a mother begins to experience BB or PPP, it is important to talk. Talk to a spouse, family member, friend, or, preferably, a health professional because depression affects the baby too. Symptoms may not go away on their own. It may take help, and women should not be afraid to ask. What is most important is the health of the baby, as well as that of the mother. Treatments can include counseling and or medicine such as antidepressants. It’s important to remember that taking medication and or going to talk to someone does not make you weak or be bad mother, instead, it helps finding the needed support to continue to do the wonderful job moms are already doing ☺.

Do I Have A Form Of Postpartum Depression?. 2015. Retrieved from https://americanpregnancy.org/first-year-of-life/forms-of-postpartum-depression/

Postpartum Depression. 2018. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/postpartum-depression