A type of clinical depression that occurs after childbirth
Symptoms of Postpartum depression
The following features are indicative of Postpartum depression:
mood swings
anxiety
sadness
irritability
feeling overwhelmed
crying
reduced concentration
appetite problems
trouble sleeping
fear that you are not a good mother
difficulty bonding with your baby
It is possible that Postpartum depression shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Postpartum depression
The following are the most common causes of Postpartum depression:
emotional issues
physical changes
Risk Factors for Postpartum depression
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Postpartum depression:
patient with history of depression, bipolar disorder, mood stability problems, stressful events
difficulty breastfeeding
problems in relationship with spouse
weak support system
financial problems
unplanned or unwanted pregnancy
Prevention of Postpartum depression
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Postpartum depression. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
good social support from family, friends and coworkers helps in lowering the postpartum depression
doing talk therapy helps in preventing depression
using depression-screening questionnaire during your pregnancy and after delivery monitors the signs and symptoms of depression
Occurrence of Postpartum depression
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Postpartum depression cases seen each year worldwide:
Very common > 10 Million cases
Common Age Group
Postpartum depression most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged between 15-60 years
Common Gender
Postpartum depression can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Postpartum depression
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Postpartum depression:
Blood tests: To determine the medical causes of depression
Depression-screening questionnaire: To evaluate the mental conditions and diagnose the postpartum depression
Doctor for Diagnosis of Postpartum depression
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Postpartum depression:
Psychiatrist
Complications of Postpartum depression if untreated
Yes, Postpartum depression causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Postpartum depression is left untreated:
chronic depressive disorder
emotional and behavioral problems for childrens
Procedures for Treatment of Postpartum depression
The following procedures are used to treat Postpartum depression:
Psychotherapy: Helps in finding the better ways to cope with your feelings and solve problems
Electroconvulsive therapy: Lowers the symptoms of psychosis and depression
Self-care for Postpartum depression
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Postpartum depression:
Make healthy lifestyle choices: Helps in recovering the disease
Make time for yourself: Helps in relieving the depression
Avoid isolation: Breaking the isolation may help you feel human again
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Postpartum depression
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Postpartum depression:
Regular physical therapy: Exercise helps in relieving the postpartum depressive symptoms
Practicing acupuncture and massage therapies: Helps in lowering the depressive symptoms
Patient Support for Treatment of Postpartum depression
The following actions may help Postpartum depression patients:
Join support groups: Helps in coping with postpartum depression
Time for Treatment of Postpartum depression
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Postpartum depression to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
