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Erin Waxman

Postpartum Depression | Canadian Mental Health Association - 0 views

  • References to postpartum depression date back as far as the 4th century BC. Despite this early awareness, it has not always been recognized as an illness.
  • The sooner the condition is diagnosed, the more effective the treatment.
  • The mother may fear she is losing her mind or fear that others may feel she is unfit to be a mother.
    • Erin Waxman
       
      example: visions of seeing harm done to their baby, or even seeing them do harm to their own child.
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  • The “baby blues” is the most minor form of postpartum depression. It usually starts 1 to 3 days after delivery, and is characterized by weeping, irritability, lack of sleep, mood changes and a feeling of vulnerability. These “blues” can last several weeks. It’s estimated that between 50% and 80% of mothers experience them.
  • Women with this condition suffer despondency, tearfulness, feelings of inadequacy, guilt, anxiety, irritability and fatigue.
  • A woman with postpartum depression may regard her child with ambivalence, negativity or disinterest.
    • Erin Waxman
       
      to me this is the most scary thing in the world. To have just given life to a child and to feel such negative feelings towards it when it should be the happiest time in your life.
  • An adverse effect on the bonding between mother and child may result.
    • Erin Waxman
       
      very important and can cause severe damage to the child. The lack of feelings of love and belonging in a child's first years can result in many behavioural and psychological problems in the future.
  • The depression can begin at any time between delivery and 6 months post-birth, and may last up to several months or even a year
  • Postpartum psychosis is a relatively rare disorder. The symptoms include extreme confusion, fatigue, agitation, alterations in mood, feelings of hopelessness and shame, hallucinations and rapid speech or mania. Studies indicate that it affects only one in 1000 births.
  • The exact cause of postpartum depression is not known.
  • One factor may be the changes in hormone levels that occur during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth.
    • Erin Waxman
       
      this is the most common thought cause of the illness
  • There is no one trigger; postpartum depression is believed to result from many complex factors. It is important, however, to communicate to women with postpartum depression that they did not bring it upon themselves.
  • One certain fact is that women who have experienced depression before becoming pregnant are at higher risk for postpartum depression.
  • The risk increases in women who have experienced 2 or more abortions, or women who have a history of obstetric complications.
  • a difficult relationship, lack of a support network, stressful events during the pregnancy or after delivery.
  • Therapy, support networks and medicines such as antidepressants are used to treat postpartum depression.
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