Postpartum Depression: Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors

Postpartum depression is a mental health condition that may affect women after they have given birth. It can occur anytime within the first year after childbirth or pregnancy loss. The condition is named 'postpartum' to indicate that it occurs after giving birth, not during pregnancy. Postpartum depression usually appears when there are no other accompanying post-pregnancy events or illnesses. Some factors that increase the risk of developing postpartum depression include advancing age, lack of social support system in the family, complications with the pregnancy or delivery, the experience of prior depressive episodes in life, or history of alcohol abuse or eating disorders. Get the best private ultrasound scan in Coventry here!

 

Symptoms may include changes in appetite with an urge for binge eating and food cravings, sleep disturbances such as insomnia or excessive sleepiness, psychomotor agitation or retardation, which manifest as restlessness or fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Other symptoms include feeling worthless and ignoring personal hygiene with an avoidance of the company of loved ones. Postpartum depression also leads to a host of negative feelings like guilt and shame loss of self-esteem and may lead to thoughts about harming oneself.

The exact cause for postpartum depression is not known, but it is believed that hormonal changes during pregnancy and childbirth could be responsible for triggering this condition in women who are vulnerable due to other psychiatric disorders like anxiety or bipolar disorder. A woman's emotional response may also depend on stressors like financial problems, which affect her ability to cope with life events. For an accurate 4D well-being scan in Coventry contact us!

The risk factors for postpartum depression include family history, lack of emotional or social support from the partner and from close friends, tendency to feel overwhelmed by daily problems as well as a history of bipolar disorder or marital dissatisfaction. The condition may also affect women who have had mental health issues in the past, such as dysthymia or anxiety disorders.

Postpartum depression can be prevented if a pregnant woman is able to communicate effectively about her fears and concerns during pregnancy. She must receive support from her partner and other family members so that it will relieve some of the pressure she feels in coping with the demands of taking care of an infant. Partner support is also important in preventing the woman from experiencing feelings of guilt, depression, and anxiety. It is also best for a pregnant or breastfeeding mother to seek help when she feels overwhelmed by her condition so that family members will not have to bear the burden alone. 

For the best tips on any issue, contact our well-being scan clinic in Coventry. 

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