When a woman gives birth to a baby, she goes through a wide range of emotions and mood swings. There are three subcategories of postpartum mood disorders; baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Some other related illnesses include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorders. Depression of any sort without any external help needs attention and it must be properly taken care of. It takes a toll on the health of first-time mothers who seem to be confused about their condition. They might not know what they are going through. It is highly recommended that you do proper research on this subject so that you can be aware of its symptoms beforehand.
Physiological causes of postpartum depression
There may be several reasons for postpartum depression which are as follows.
- Hormonal changes like a sudden drop in reproductive hormones
- Sleep deprivation due to baby’s irregular sleep schedule
- Physical changes in your body
What is postpartum depression?
Around 15% of the women experience mood swings after the delivery. It can last for as long as two weeks. This type of depression can have the following symptoms:
- Tiredness
- Sadness, hopelessness
- Difficulty in sleeping and eating
- A feeling of guilt and worthlessness
- Social detachment from family and friends
- Less interest in baby
- A feeling of self-harm
- Panic attacks
- Eating disorders
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
Even after these symptoms and diagnosis, there may be irregular relapses of this disorder.
Treatment of postpartum depression
To treat this disorder, some steps need to be taken to stop this recurring condition.
- Seek help from healthcare providers which may include therapists, doctors, or psychiatrist
- If you think you are vulnerable to strong emotions then you must not wait for the PPD to occur. Some women wait for the symptoms to show but it is better to start taking anti-depressants to control this condition immediately after giving birth to the baby. They can be purchased from a discount pharmacy like 90daymeds at less prices.
- Try to be socially active by communicating with your loved ones and talking about your mental health with them
- A strong support system is needed in the form of a family member or a friend to help you in your difficult time.
- Do a lot of healthy exercises to divert your attention from the depression onto healthy physical activities.
- Eat well. Adopt a habit of eating leafy vegetables and fruits to help with your symptoms
