Postpartum blues are feelings of sadness a mother might have in the first couple of days after having a baby. Postpartum blues are also called Baby blues. Postpartum means after child birth. Roughly (70 %) of mothers experience postpartum blues or baby blues.Having a child is demanding, regardless of how much you looked forward to it or how much you love your baby The birth of a child can cause a lot of strong emotions, from excitement and joy to worry and anxiety
Bearing in mind the a serious lack of sleep, new tasks, and also insufficient time for yourself, it really is not unusual that many new mommies feel they do after childbirth
Postpartum Blues or Baby blues can happen 2 to 3 days after you have your child and the timeframe can last up to two weeks and it usually disappears on its own
Postpartum blues vs postpartum depression
The difference between Postpartum blues and Postpartum depression is in the duration. While postpartum blues can last up to 2 weeks, postpartum depression lasts up to 5- 6 months. Postpartum depression is much more serious compared to postpartum blues or baby blues, and it can interrupt with normal daily functioning.
Postpartum Blues Signs
Weeping or crying for no obvious reason
Impatience
Worry
Sadness
Irritability Fatigue
Uneasiness
Mood shift
Sleeplessness
Poor attention to detail
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression are normally mistaken confused for Postpartum blues in the beginning, but the signs and symptoms are likely to to be more intense and they normally last longer and normally interfere with your ability to look after child and also take care of some other everyday domestic duties. Signs and symptoms typically show up within the first few weeks after child delivery, but can last for six months.
Postpartum Depression Signs
Excessive crying
Difficulty bonding with your child
Depressed mood or even severe mood swings
Intense irritation and anger issues
Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
Inability to sleep (insomnia) or going to sleep too much
Fear that you're not a very good mom
Severe anxiety and panic attacks
Withdrawing from friends and relations
Diminished ability to reason clearly, focus or make decisions
Reduced interest and satisfaction in activities you used to delight in
Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
Postpartum Blues / Depression Causes
There's no particular reason behind postpartum depression, however physical and emotional issues may play a role.
Emotional problems: When you're overwhelmed and suffering from sleep deprivation, you might have problems handling even small challenges. You might be disturbed by your ability to take care of a new baby. You might feel unappealing, struggle with your sense of identification or feel that you have lost control over your life. *
Fluctuations in hormones. After giving birth, there is always a decrease in hormones levels (progesterone and estrogen) in the body system and this normally leads to postpartum blues/ depression. Other hormones created by your thyroid gland drop drastically, thereby making you to feel exhausted, lazy and depressed. All of these issues can lead to postpartum blues/ depression.
Postpartum Blues Treatments
Taking care of mom is the most beneficial way to lessen the signs and symptoms of the postpartum blues. There are many different ways that you can take care of yourself if you happen to be experiencing postpartum blues or baby blues.
Eat balanced diet: Nutrition normally suffers anytime one is depressed. The quality of breast milk produced and the state of the mind are usually influenced by the type of foods being consumed. So it advised that a mother who is depressed should eat healthy diets.
Enough sleep and rest: A full eight hours may seem impossible when you are handling a new born, but inadequate sleep can make postpartum blues worse. Do everything you can to get a lot of rest. Devote enough time for yourself for relaxation and take a break from your motherly chores. Find small ways to pamper yourself, like enjoying a hot cup of tea, lighting scented candles or taking a bubble shower.
Exercise: Research has revealed that physical exercise may be just as effective as medications when it comes to treating depression, therefore it is better to get back to exercise. A 30-minute walk out every day will work wonders. Stretching exercises such as those seen in yoga have shown to be also effective too.
Stay connected with family and friends and seek for their help. When you are experiencing postpartum blues, it's important to stay connected to family and friends rather than being alone. Detaching yourself will only make your situation to even worsen. Allow all your family members know what you wish as well as how you'd desire to be assisted
Join a support group: You may think about looking for other womenfolk who are undergoing the same shift into parenthood. It is very supportive to see that other mothers share your concerns, anxieties, and feelings.
Don't keep your feelings to yourself: Discuss what you might be feeling with your loved ones, whether good or bad .
Spend some time with your husband : More than half of all marital break-up occurs after the birth of a child. The marital bonds between couples can be destroyed by the demands of new-born if the couple involved do not put in some energy, time to sustain their relationship. The trauma of sleeplessness and taking care of the baby can make you feel overwhelmed and exhausted. And since you can't transfer your frustration to the new-born, it's all too easy to turn your anger to your husband. So instead of blaming each other, why not tackle the problem together as a family. If you handle parenting problems as a team, you'll discover how stronger you will be
Help from husbands
During this time of experiencing postpartum blues, husbands should be very helpful to their wives in several ways like:
Make sure she has time for herself: Rest and leisure are important. Encourage her to take breaks, seek the services of a babysitter.
Be patient if she is not ready for sex: Depression can have negative influence sexual libido, therefore you have to be patient with her until she is in the mood.
Take a stroll with her: Getting regular exercise create big difference in depression. Assisting her by making strolls a daily routine for the two of you will do great wonders.
Encourage her to speak about her emotions: Listen to her without judging her, simply be there for her to count on.
Offer help at home: Help out with the housekeeping and baby-sitting duties.
Medical Treatment for Postpartum Depression
If, in spite of the self-help along with the support of your family, and you are still experiencing postpartum depression, you might seek for medical treatment.
Antidepressants: If your ability to properly take care of yourself and your child is being compromised, then antidepressants may be an alternative. It is better you consult your doctor to recommend good antidepressants especially if you are breast-feeding as you know that any medication you take enters the breast milk. All the same, some antidepressants can be used while breast-feeding with minor chance of side effects on your child.
Psychotherapy:Sharing your concerns with a psychologist or a mental health provider will go a long way to help you. Through therapy, you will learn better ways to deal with with your feelings, resolve problems, and respond to situations positively.
Marriage counselling: If you happen to be facing matrimonial hitches or feeling unsupported in your family, marriage counselling might be very necessary.
Hormone therapies: Estrogen replacement therapy can sometimes be useful in treating postpartum depression. Antidepressants can be used in combination with estrogen. Before you start undergoing hormone therapy, make sure to consult your doctor, as there are risks associated with hormone therapy, so that he can know what is best for you.
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