why do some mothers get post natal depression?

Question

just wondering after watching a few soaps?

Answer 1

Hey Girl, I've been there!! It's NOT FUN, but hEY...if I can get through it!! You can too! Just get some time away for you and friends, be with your man, or go hang out with men!!! Get social again and start slow!!! You can only be a good mom if you take the time YOU need for YOURSELF ALSO!!!! HONESTLY :)
I suffered with post-partum psychosis for about a week and it was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I want you to know you don't always need prescription drugs either...try natural things from a GOOD natural doctor THAT IS the Only thing that worked for me and I tried every prescription out there!!
Take care and maybe this will help...


Contributing factors
The exact causes of PND are still not known. Some contributing factors might include:
Physical changes - even a relatively easy birth is an overwhelming experience for the female body. In addition, the sudden drop in pregnancy hormones affects brain chemicals (neurotransmitters). Broken sleep and exhaustion can also contribute to depression.
Emotional changes - adapting to parenthood is daunting. The new mother has to deal with the constant demands of a baby, a different dynamic to her relationship with her partner and the loss of her own independence. Such changes would be hard at the best of times, but are even more overwhelming when a woman is still physically recovering from childbirth and coping with broken sleep.
Social changes - society puts lots of demands and expectations on a new mother, which a woman may feel she needs to live up to. She may find herself less able to keep up contact with her friends and workmates. Adapting to living on one wage may also be difficult.
Postpone any major life decisions
Postnatal depression can put an enormous strain on any marriage, even when the husband is patient, loving and supportive. It isn’t unusual for a couple battling PND to think that their relationship has soured beyond repair. Generally, this is not the case, since most relationships return to normal once the depression lifts. It is a good idea to postpone any major life decisions while in the grip of PND.

The relationship with the baby
A woman with PND tends to withdraw from everyone, including her baby. This is a symptom of the disorder and doesn’t mean that she is a ‘bad’ mother. Some people think that bonding between the mother and child has to happen within the first few days or weeks of birth, or else it won’t happen at all. This is not true. Their relationship is an ongoing process. Once the depression lifts, the mother will be able to once again feel her full range of emotions and start to enjoy her baby. In the meantime, she might need some extra help from family and friends.

Type of help available
Support and patience from family and friends is perhaps the most crucial factor in a woman’s recovery. Talking about her feelings, particularly with other women in support groups or to a professional counsellor, can be helpful. In more severe cases, anti-depressants and other medications might be used to bring about a change in mood. It’s important to remember that PND is a temporary condition that will improve with time.

Where to get help
Your doctor
Professional counsellor
PND support group Tel. [phone]
The Royal Women’s Hospital Tel [phone]
Contact your local hospital, many offer support for women (and their families) who are affected by PND
Things to remember
Postnatal depression can develop within a few days or weeks of giving birth.
The condition can range from a mild feeling of sadness to a paralysing depression.
The exact causes of postnatal depression are unknown; however, the enormous physical, emotional and social changes involved in becoming a parent seem to play a significant role.

Related articles:

Answer 2

Do you mean postpartum, like after the baby is born? It is because hormone levels in the body are so screwed up and don't get back to normal as quickly as they should. Medicine may help this. Childbirth and a new baby are also a lot of stress, not to mention a huge lack of sleep and change all at once, so that can contribute to the situation.

Soap operas tend to overdo it a bit though....real postpartum depression is a scary thing that needs treated immediately.

Answer 3

It's all hormones! And I can be the first to tell you that most soaps arent anything like real life! I was diagnosed with post partum depression when my daughter was 4 months old and it is a MAJOR problem that has to be dealt with! I was put on medication and soon thereafter felt alot better. But like I said it is all about hormones and some women handle the stress of a baby better than others.

Answer 4

Over the last five years I had begun to have increasingly withdraw into a downward spiral of depression..

But now with the method I can fully focus my energy and thoughts into a decisive line on how to make my life better constantly. And it works like magic! I'm beginning to attract people to me once again and things have just been looking up since then.

Helping you eliminate depression?

Answer 5

Post Pardom Depression is due to sudden change in hormones after baby is born. The degree of severity is different for every woman. Some may not get it at all.

Answer 6

Yes, the complete medical term is postpartum depression and here are the causes and symptoms:

As of 2001, experts cannot say what causes postpartum depression. Most likely, it is caused by many factors that vary from individual to individual. Mothers commonly experience some degree of depression during the first weeks after birth. Pregnancy and birth are accompanied by sudden hormonal changes that affect emotions. Additionally, the 24-hour responsibility for a newborn infant represents a major psychological and lifestyle adjustment for most mothers, even after the first child. These physical and emotional stresses are usually accompanied by inadequate rest until the baby's routine stabilizes, so fatigue and depression are not unusual.

Experiences vary considerably but usually include several symptoms.

Feelings:
persistent low mood
inadequacy, failure, hopelessness, helplessness
exhaustion, emptiness, sadness, tearfulness
guilt, shame, worthlessness
confusion, anxiety, and panic
fear for the baby and of the baby
fear of being alone or going out

Behaviors:
lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities
insomnia or excessive sleep, nightmares
not eating or overeating
decreased energy and motivation
withdrawal from social contact
poor self-care
inability to cope with routine tasks

Thoughts:
inability to think clearly and make decisions
lack of concentration and poor memory
running away from everything
fear of being rejected by partner
worry about harm or death to partner or baby
ideas about suicide

Some symptoms may not indicate a severe problem. However, persistent low mood or loss of interest or pleasure in activities, along with four other symptoms occurring together for a period of at least two weeks, indicate clinical depression, and require adequate treatment.

There are several important risk factors for postpartum depression, including:

stress
lack of sleep
poor nutrition
lack of support from one's partner, family or friends
family history of depression
labor/delivery complications for mother or baby
premature or postmature delivery
problems with the baby's health
separation of mother and baby
A difficult baby (temperament, feeding, sleeping, settling problems)
preexisting neurosis or psychosis

Hope this answers your inquiry satisfactorily.

Answer 7

Giving birth is an overwhelming experience with emotional extremes, physical trauma and exhaustion. You get through it very well if you have good family relationships and preferably tons of female practical and emotional support (mother, sisters etc.) Unfortunately, many new mums have to do without this vital backup system, and while they totally love their babies, they just can't cope with the demands of being on-call 24/7 and being expected to take it all in their stride.

Answer 8

"Postnatal Depression (PND) is a recognised and treatable illness which affects approximately 10-15% of mothers and 10% of fathers.

It may come on immediately after the arrival of the baby but can also present later, or go unrecognised for weeks or months.

Many mothers feel anxious, tearful and unable to look forward to anything,sometimes irritable and despondent.

They may have a sense of inadequacy and feelings of failure and often experience physical symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue.

It is common for a mother to feel that she is unable to cope and have irrational fears, possibly feeling that they won't ever be like they were before. It is important to remember that it is the depression that makes her feel like this and that mothers do recover from PND, although it may take time."

Here are some liks that might help you a little more.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice/facts/depressionpostnatal.htm

http://www.swsahs.nsw.gov.au/karitane/docs/postnatal_depression.asp

http://www.family2000.org.uk/postnatal_depression.htm

Answer 9

Its PostPartum Depression. Its a hormonal imbalance that can sometimes be incredibly severe. Despression is a chemical imbalance in your system...mainly in your brain, that requires assistance, be it homeopathicaly or chemicaly (meds). It requires a temporary balancing out as you can not control the chemicals in your system.
With postpartum, you just had a baby sucking you dry for the last 9 months, and your body adjusted itself to that. Now, you suddenly don't have that in you, and sometimes your body, thusly the chemicals in your brain, are not going to bounce back - what you need to keep balanced is no longer in your system or is in short supply.

Answer 10

pregnancy is a stressfull time on the body.....your body is pumped full of hormones, and after giving birth hormoses are no longer in such large numbers in the body.

plus, many mothers find the first few months very stressful, what with all the late nights and lack of time for themselves.