How can I tell if I’m experiencing Postpartum Depression?
There are a number of ways to differentiate between Postpartum Blues, (mild feelings of depression and anxiety that typically appear within the first one-to-two weeks of giving birth) and Postpartum Depression (more severe and persistent feelings of depression and anxiety that typically show up anytime from a few weeks to two years after the birth of a baby).
(Note: Postpartum Blues used to be called “Baby Blues”, but health care providers are increasingly using the term “ Postpartum Blues” to steer clear of any implication that baby is to blame for how mom is feeling.)
Here is where to start:
- Look at the timing of the onset of the symptoms. With Postpartum Blues (experienced by up to 85% of new moms), symptoms occur within one to two weeks following the birth of a baby. With Postpartum Depression (experienced by 10 to 15% of new moms), symptoms can occur anytime between a few months to up to two years following the birth.
- Consider the severity of the symptoms. With Postpartum Blues, symptoms of anxiety and depression are mild. With Postpartum Depression, the symptoms are much more severe. These symptoms may include feelings of sadness and emptiness, constant fatigue, trouble sleeping, changes to eating habits (either eating too little or too much), a strong sense of failure or inadequacy, intense concern and worry about the baby or a lack of interest in the baby, thoughts of suicide, or fears of harming the baby. (Note: If a mother experiences a severe depression following the birth of her baby—one in which she experiences hallucinations or thoughts about harming her baby or herself—she is said to be experiencing Postpartum Psychosis. Fortunately, Postpartum Psychosis is quite rare, affecting just one to two out of each 1000 women who have given birth recently.
- Be prepared for the need for treatment. The Postpartum Blues will resolve itself on its own within a couple of days. Take the best possible care of yourself in the meantime by getting as much rest as you can, asking for help from family and friends, and making an effort to get out for a walk each day. Postpartum Depression requires medical evaluation and treatment (typically medication and/or group or individual therapy). Other treatments such as bright light therapy may also be recommended.
It is important to seek treatment, because if left untreated, Postpartum Depression can lead to difficulties in bonding or caring for your baby. That, in turn, can lead to delays in your baby’s development. It can also put major stress on your relationship with your partner. The sooner you recognize the symptoms of Postpartum Depression in yourself and reach out for help, the sooner things can start to get better.
It’s not easy to get up and read a personal story about your post-baby marriage breakdown in front of a group of strangers. But that is what I regularly ask my writing students to do. Bare your soul on a piece of paper and then read it out loud. I give them topics and a time limit and they come back (mostly beginner writers) looking sheepish and scared. They always start off with a disclaimer: “I don’t really like this, but…” or “I didn’t really know what to say, but…”. Always, the stories are interesting. Always, the group of strangers becomes friends.
It’s amazing what sharing your personal stories can do to transform your confidence and your connections with other moms. Here’s a short-list of benefits to baring your soul:
- The reaction. When you share your true stories with other moms, you will soon realize you are not alone. I have yet to hold a class where a woman did not receive applause, adulation and support. Mostly, women will listen to each other’s stories and discover we all go through similar challenges.
- Sharing stories allows us to learn something new about ourselves, the world, parenting and more. Through other people’s real life experiences, we can see things in a different way and learn to appreciate what we have.
- Writing is an act of self-discovery. Sharing your stories with other moms can help you deepen that process. A woman may ask you something you had never before considered, forcing you to reconsider not only your writing, but your life as well.
- Making friends. Share a story with a group of women about your post-baby career crisis, your struggle with maintaining friendships, your failed efforts to be the perfect mom, and they’ll be your friends forever. There’s nothing like baring your soul to start deep friendships.
We often hide from the truth, pretend everything is fine, believe we can manage. But motherhood is hard, and sharing our stories can help us connect and feel less isolated and alone.
Cori Howard is the founder of
The Momoir Project teaching writing classes to a growing community of moms online and in cities around the world. She is also an award-winning journalist whose work is regularly published in magazines like
Reader’s Digest,
Today’s Parent and
Chatelaine, and the editor of
Between Interruptions: Thirty Women Tell the Truth about Motherhood.
Comments
For a lot of women it’s somewhat difficult to know if what’s being experienced is postpartum depression because everyone’s experience is different. For one person it may be dramatic symptoms and very noticeable changes, whereas for another person (as it was for me) it may be gradual changes in mood and other things. Also, with depression many people very often attribute their fatigue and loss of interest to bouts of laziness and have a hard time admitting and coming to terms with the fact that it is depression because there’s still a stigma attached to depression and no one wants to appear to be weak.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience.