New parents and anyone who is pregnant or their loved one needs to learn about postpartum depression and how to best seek help, according to Montgomery County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis.
“Symptoms of depression after childbirth can vary and can range from mild to severe,” according to Davis. “Every new parent and their loved ones should know what to look for and seek help as soon as possible.”
The symptoms of postpartum depression may be mistaken for “baby blues” but they are more intense and last longer, she noted in a news release. They may interfere with one’s ability to care for a baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within a few weeks after giving birth but can begin earlier—during pregnancy or later—up to a year after birth.
Symptoms may include:
- Depressed mood or severe mood swings
- Frequent crying or tearfulness
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
- Inability to sleep, called insomnia or sleeping too much
- Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
- Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
- Intense irritability and anger
- Fear that you are not a good mother
- Hopelessness
- Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
- Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
- Restlessness
- Severe anxiety and panic attacks
- Fear of being alone with your baby
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition affecting approximately one or two of every 1,000 women after giving birth. It is characterized by severe mood swings, hallucinations, paranoia, delusions and disorganized thinking. Postpartum depression and the more severe postpartum psychosis may both put the mother at risk of harming herself or the baby.
Davis urges anyone feeling depressed after giving birth to ask for help from a primary care provider or OB/GYN. If new mothers talk about suicide, advise them to call 988, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7 by telephone or text. Services are available in multiple languages.
Other places to turn to include the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) by telephone or text or the Montgomery County Crisis Center. The county crisis center is a 24/7 telephone and walk-in telephone mental health crisis service. The phone number is 240-777-3000.
Causes of postpartum depression and psychosis are not fully understood, but risk factors may include a history of mental illness, hormonal changes and physical changes, according to the news release.
For more information about postpartum psychosis and available resources, visit the National Institutes of Health National Child & Maternal Health program’s website. Resource material in English and Spanish is also available on the Postpartum Support International website.
