Postpartum Depression
Category: Medical Issues
This check list is in the following categories:
Symptoms of postpartum depression and what you can do about them.
Have you given birth to a new baby and now feel one or more of the following symptoms? This may be the normal "baby blues" -- feelings that go away within a couple weeks and are usually alleviated with rest and support from
family and friends. However, if your symptoms are frequent and have lasted more than a couple weeks, it may be a more serious postpartum depression. If so, contact your doctor right away. The fact that you completely love your
new baby, is often not enough to change negative feelings. There are medicines and therapies that may benefit you. Depression in young mothers is common and can often be helped with medical intervention.
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Feeling of being overwhelmed or incapable to caring for a child.
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Crying more than normal
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Often feeling nervous or scared
This feeling of being out of control may lead to anxiety attacks.
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Frustrated and angry
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Disinterested in having fun
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Feelings of guilt
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Unable to sleep even though you try and conditions are right.
This includes the ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and sleep restfully. Many women who experience depression, feel weak or tired, and need to lay down for much of the day even though sleep seldom occurs during these
"rest periods."
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Unable to concentrate
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Feelings of wanting to harm the child, to make them change behavior (for example, stop crying or go to sleep.)
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No real feelings of hunger
Try eating small, healthy snacks even when you are not hungry. Also, try to exercise even if you just to walk around the block.
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Little or no interest in the baby
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Inability to nurse
The inability to nurse may be caused by several different factors. Stress and frustration are often involved. A mother needs to be able to be able relax in order to successfully nurse. If you are depressed, frustrated,
or tense, your body may not perform as it should and nursing may be ineffective or impossible.
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Weight fluctuation
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Sadness
It helps to talk to someone, whether by phone, in person, or by email. Personal contact can help you temporarily deal with sadness. Listening to upbeat music can also help.
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Feelings of boredom and no goals that motivate you.
If you're bored, try making a list of all the things you can possibly think of that you could do or that need to get done. Arrange the list in order of enjoyment and again in order or importance. Now do one thing on
the top of each list.
IMPORTANT! If at any time you have feelings of harming yourself or your baby, contact your doctor or seek help from a community service immediately.