How to deal with postpartum depression on your own. When you need expert help. How long does postpartum depression last?

According to statistics, 15% of women suffer from postpartum depression. Moreover, it can be caused by various reasons - from the birth of a dead baby to ordinary childbirth. Modern doctors even began to recognize this as a rather serious problem that requires mandatory treatment. This is due to the fact that postpartum depression affects not only the condition of the mother, but also the child.

Often, postpartum depression is called the usual fatigue or moral exhaustion of a young woman. Almost all women who have survived childbirth face this phenomenon. And, of course, this has nothing to do with real postpartum depression. Compared to ordinary fatigue, it lasts much longer - from several months to several years (if the woman was not provided with specialist help on time).

There is also a rather severe form - psychosis. Young mothers with this diagnosis may experience hallucinations, attempts to harm themselves or even the baby, severe tantrums, etc. In this case, you certainly cannot do without the intervention of doctors, and you simply cannot turn a blind eye to this.

What causes postpartum depression

Most often, according to experts, the cause is fluctuations in the level of hormones in the body of a woman who has just given birth. It just seems that after delivery, all hormonal changes end. In fact, they are only getting stronger. After all, a woman's body is being rebuilt to breastfeeding, etc.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the development of this problem.

The list includes:

lack of support from the husband and other relatives;
nervous shock associated with an unfavorable outcome of childbirth (the child was in intensive care, was injured, died);
health problems in the mother herself;
long-standing mental problems in a woman in labor.

The risk group often includes women for whom this pregnancy was the first. And also those who at least once suffered from such a condition before

Development mechanisms

Pregnancy itself and, of course, childbirth is a huge shock for a woman, both physically and morally. First, a lot of changes occur in the endocrine system of the body. Secondly, all this naturally affects the psychological sphere as well. Hormones jump with terrible force. Especially on the 5th day after the birth of the baby - doctors note that at this time there is a powerful hormonal release into the blood of a young mother. A drop in hormone levels just leads women prone to such conditions to the appearance of depression.

Symptoms of postpartum depression

The list of symptoms is quite extensive, and in each individual case, the behavior of a woman may differ from how others experience this condition. However, experts have found that there is a certain average list of what can be safely called symptoms.

So, for example, a clear signal that a young mother has depression is the denial of the problem and the refusal of help. It seems to a woman that she cannot cope with the baby on her own, but she is ashamed to admit this. As a result, she rushes from one thing to another, which further slows down the process and aggravates the depression. The result may be a woman's refusal to take care of herself, the house, or even the child herself.

Another symptom that indicates that a woman is severely depressed is a sense of anxiety. It doesn't let her go for a second. Often it is accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness and emptiness. This often results in insomnia and other sleep disorders.

Depression in the mother is also indicated by the absence of joyful emotions when communicating with the child and performing the necessary care for him. In addition, a woman can not force herself to concentrate.

It is not at all necessary that all symptoms may appear as soon as a woman leaves the hospital with her baby. They may well cover her in a few weeks, when fatigue reaches its peak.

How to overcome postpartum depression?

It is advisable to immediately take the young mother to the doctor at the first manifestations of depression. And you should not delay it, since such a condition is fraught with a transition to a more difficult stage and the development of psychosis.

Depression needs to be dealt with in a holistic way. It is imperative to connect all relatives and relatives in order to get a woman out of such a difficult state. So, for example, it is necessary to unload a young mother in terms of housework. If possible, you can invite grandmothers to help. Or, alternatively, hire an au pair. Mothers should be left only to take care of the baby.

The woman herself must definitely start taking care of herself - pay attention to her appearance, wardrobe, etc. Of course, it’s not worth putting on makeup like for an award, but you also don’t need to make a rat tail and put on a greasy robe.

A woman in the period of postpartum depression is in a depressed, uncontrollable state, due to which all family members suffer. The husband does not withstand the load, and the child does not receive the attention he needs so much. There are frequent cases when, due to the depressive state of a newly-made mother, the baby lags behind in development. For these and other reasons, it is important to eradicate postpartum depression at the very beginning of its development. Let's consider the important aspects in order.

Who is at risk for postpartum depression?

mothers of many children;
women going through a divorce;
girls who are in conflict with their husband because of pregnancy;
single women who ended up with a child in their arms due to an unplanned pregnancy;
girls with premenstrual dysphoric disorder;
girls who have previously experienced postpartum depression;
women who have undergone pregnancy without the support of loved ones.

Symptoms of postpartum depression

dark thoughts, low self-esteem;
dejected state for a week;
regular constipation;
distracted attention;
exacerbation of chronic diseases;
frequent occurrence of suicidal tendencies;
constant feeling of guilt;
apathy, insomnia, complete lack of appetite;
a sharp mood swing, where the peak of depression and one's own worthlessness occurs in the morning and decreases significantly in the evening;
dreary and lethargic mood, anxiety does not let go;
removal from relatives, friends, spouse and even a child.

Causes of postpartum depression

You can't get away from physiology. During pregnancy, the woman was in high spirits, nothing bothered her, the expectant mother was looking forward to the appearance of the baby and a happy life. Immediately after childbirth, a sharp hormonal failure occurs, the menstrual cycle resumes and chronic sleep deprivation begins. Especially often these symptoms appear after the cessation of breastfeeding. A woman is not satisfied with her own appearance, a colossal lack of time begins and the ground is created for the onset of postpartum depression.
It is not uncommon for a girl to make predictions throughout her pregnancy that she will be a bad mother. As a rule, such situations arise in those who themselves were born in a dysfunctional or single-parent family. Constant anxiety and a sense of helplessness only exacerbate the situation. The newly-made mother does not believe in herself, due to which she slowly falls into depression.
A woman believes that after the birth of a baby, she becomes useless to anyone. Childless friends and acquaintances continue to have fun, losing interest in her. The husband, in turn, is very distant, because constant lack of sleep exhausts him, and the wife's nervousness feeds the negative. As for relatives and parents, they do not always give practical advice. For the most part, the older generation criticizes the young mother, undermining her psyche. Against the background of all these situations, a woman begins to fall into frequent tantrums, and soon a full-fledged depression sets in.

Set your priorities. Now the baby should come first. Bathe your baby every night, feed him on time, change his diaper to ensure a sound sleep. After the main duties are completed, lie down to rest too. Sound sleep is the dream of all mothers, rest will give energy, due to which well-being will improve significantly. You can sleep with your baby and leave the dirty dishes for later.

Accept help. There is no need to play the mother-heroine of yourself, shift some of the housework to relatives, husband or older children. Do not refuse help if it is offered to you, otherwise ask for the service yourself. Help is in cooking, laundry, temporary stay with the child. Feel free to ask your loved ones to go shopping or pay utility bills.

Many women do great on their own before giving birth, but it's important to understand that you can't afford that right now. Lack of rest for several days has a bad effect not only on your well-being, but also on those around you. It will take some time to return to the previous combat readiness. Sit down and consider who and what you can ask, then act. No need to exhaust yourself, at first it will be extremely difficult to be a good wife, mother and housewife at the same time. In this way, you will exhaust the nervous system, mired in depression for a long time.

Adjust your daily routine. Get a notebook and write down the primary and secondary things. Try to make the most of them. You don’t need to write a kilometer-long routine, sketch out only the most important. Keep in mind that children are extremely unpredictable, your schedule should be flexible. Cross out one field from the list as you complete it. Do not try to keep up with everything at once, it is quite possible that the first few days you will not be able to cope with everything. In this case, you need to review the tasks and adjust them taking into account free time.

Balance your diet. Breastfeeding women need to eat right. Include fresh vegetables in the menu, always have fruits on hand. Buy groceries for the week ahead. If possible, purchase kitchen utensils that make cooking much easier. It can be a blender, an electric meat grinder, a dishwasher and, of course, a slow cooker. Cook only those dishes that do not require time. Eat porridge in the morning, eat soup or stewed vegetables for lunch, limit yourself to salad in the evening. Follow a diet, but do not starve. Do not forget to eat, this is a common problem for new mothers.

Make time for yourself. Plan your day so that you can find an hour or two to take care of yourself. Dirty hair and unpainted nails are constantly depressing. The first six months after the birth of a baby can be safely called "Groundhog Day", so look for joyful moments during this period. Take a fragrant bath, do a manicure and pedicure. Ask your parents or husband to sit with the child, while you yourself go to the hairdresser to cut your split hair or drastically change your hairstyle. Make a face mask, peeling for hands and feet, do light physical exercises in the form of exercises or stretches. Just sit and read a book, watch a series. It will take only 1 hour, after which you will feel like a full-fledged woman.

Don't try to catch up with everything at once. Do one thing at a time, based on the total amount of free time. Don't wear yourself out.
Set aside at least 1 day a week to exercise. Sign up for Pilates, stretching, yoga, or take a half-hour walk around the house.
To avoid a constant gloomy mood, hang light-colored curtains in the apartment. Don't close the blinds, the sun's rays lift morale.
When it seems to you that everything is bad and problems are covering your head, speak out loud. Talk to your child and tell him what is bothering you. For the most part, the difficulties are not as global as they might seem at first glance.
Don't take it out on your spouse. Instead of screaming and accusing him of all mortal sins, honestly admit what happened. A man is exhausted no less than you, he will support and cheer you up. As practice shows, it is husbands who help their wives overcome depression.
Master the psychological trick: sit in a comfortable chair, close your eyes and focus on your breathing. Spend in this position for 5 minutes several times a day. The method helps to relax and put thoughts in order.
Don't hoard emotions. When you feel that a nervous breakdown is ahead, go to the shower, turn on the water and hit the jet with the edge of your hand. After that, close yourself in the room and talk into the pillow, scream, cry, beat the mattress, but do not keep everything to yourself.
In the first few months after the birth of a baby, do not allow large crowds of people in the apartment. Communicate only with relatives and friends, no strangers or relatives whom you have not seen for many years.
If you feel that you can’t cope with depression on your own, contact a psychologist or sign up for a training for new mothers. Do not be shy, for such purposes there are graduates.
Walking in the fresh air is useful not only for you, but also for the baby. Go outside several times a day, visit the park, stay in well-equipped and beautiful places.
Share fears, worries and doubts with your husband or loved ones. They will assess the situation objectively and will be able to give practical advice.
No need to get angry or lose your temper when the baby cries. He is your child, blood, sun and angel. Check diapers, feed and put to bed, saying tender words.

To cope with postpartum depression, you need to prioritize. The child must be fed, dry and clean. Carve out 1 hour a day to talk with your spouse, support the marriage. It is important to understand that men also need advice in certain situations. Do not plan global changes in life for the next year, the appearance of a baby is already such.

Video: how to deal with postpartum depression

As a result of sociological surveys, it was possible to find out that in 50% of women in labor. Very often, depression after childbirth, which inevitably occurs after the birth of a child. This condition does not require special treatment. You can get rid of postpartum stress with the help of the support of your husband and other family members, as well as rest.

Postpartum depression may require professional help. If you have 5 or more of the following symptoms within 14 days, this is a signal to start treatment for depression.

: a feeling of intense anxiety; lack of appetite; sleep problems; decrease in activity; low self-esteem; inability to concentrate; unreasonable fear for the life and health of the child; heightened sense of guilt; thoughts about death.

To combat postpartum depression follow these guidelines:

1. In the first months of a child's life, try not to have too many people in the house at the same time.

2. However, remember that complete isolation from your family and friends will not do you any good. You need their support, understanding and especially help more than ever.

3. Try to spend more time outdoors. This is useful not only for you, but also for your baby.

5. Sports also help lift your spirits (unless of course you have a medical contraindication).

6. Don't forget that you need rest. Don't overwork yourself, it will only increase your depression. Try to sleep (or just rest) when the baby is sleeping.

7. Don't be ashamed to ask your family for help. Do not forget to talk to them, tell your experiences, fears.

8. Try not to be angry with your baby. He cries for a reason, he either wants to eat or sleep, perhaps diapers bring him inconvenience, or something else and he cannot tell you about it differently.

9. Do not forget about your betrothed. Do not forget that in addition to being a mother now, you were and still are a wife. And for your further well-being, you need to maintain a good relationship with your spouse.

10. Get to know young mothers from your home (or from the clinic) so that you can exchange experiences.

11. Do not start global changes. Having a baby in your life is a big change. But if this cannot be avoided, try to have a person who will help you.

12. During the day, you can turn on your favorite music, and before going to bed, turn on a calmer one so that you and your baby can fall asleep easier.

Applies to all family members. Due to depression, the child receives less mother's attention (which he really needs). In some cases, due to the depressive state of the mother, the child may lag behind in development.

Postpartum depression (without treatment) can last from seven months to one year. If you are unable to get out of this state on your own, contact a specialist, do not delay treatment.

In the treatment of postpartum depression in medical institutions, antidepressants and visits to a psychologist are prescribed. There are antidepressants that can be used by women during lactation.

Health to you and your baby!

Waiting for the birth of a child is a responsible and happy period in the life of every woman. The future mother is looking forward to the moment when she finally takes the long-awaited and already beloved baby in her arms, imagining her new life filled with joy and pleasant chores as a caring and happy mother. But, unfortunately, with the birth of a baby, bright dreams dissipate and monotonous everyday life comes - with sleepless nights, anxiety for the baby, daily duties that never end. A young mother is not able to enjoy motherhood. She feels exhausted, tired, indifferent to what is happening around, becomes whiny and irritable. Especially if she has to take care of the child on her own, without the support of her husband or relatives. Over time, fatigue, apathy and anxiety develop into a depressive state - postpartum depression, which carries a danger for both the mother and the newborn. How to survive postpartum depression and why does this problem occur in young mothers?

Postpartum depression is a psycho-emotional disorder that occurs in women after the birth of a child. This state is manifested by instability of behavior, emotional reactions to what is happening and perception of oneself and the world around. Anxiety, decreased appetite, depression, feelings of guilt, apathy are vivid manifestations of postpartum depression. This condition does not allow a woman to fully enjoy motherhood and has negative consequences for both the young mother and her baby. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that requires immediate treatment. However, not always fatigue and bad mood after childbirth can be depression, it is important to distinguish the usual blues from a depressive state.

Postpartum depression or blues?

Sometimes women, especially those who have to take care of a newborn alone, without the support of loved ones, experience blues and a dull mood after childbirth, which is accompanied by fatigue and irritability. A young mother often cries, cannot sleep for a long time, feels overwhelmed and weak, but at the same time remains happy that she has become a mother. Within a month or two, her condition improves, longing and blues pass. In the case of postpartum depression, all the symptoms of depression only worsen over time and last from six months or more, turning into a chronic form. A woman manifests not only apathy, indifference to herself and her child, but also develops a sense of guilt. As a rule, she considers herself a bad mother, unable to take care of the baby, sometimes she shows aggression towards others, becomes irritable, whiny. A feeling of anxiety does not leave her, the young mother is in constant nervous tension, she loses interest in herself, her husband, relatives and friends.

Postpartum depression: symptoms

If you have the following symptoms that indicate a depressive state after childbirth, you should immediately seek medical help and begin to fight the disease.

These symptoms include:

sudden mood swings, accompanied by tantrums, frequent crying;
irritability for any, even a minor reason, outbreaks of aggression;
feeling of unreasonable and unreasonable anxiety, anxiety;
lack of joy of motherhood;
despondency, causeless longing, desire to be alone;
physical and moral impotence, inability to solve everyday problems;
insomnia or superficial sleep;
lack of appetite;
touchiness;
cooling of sexual attraction to your man;
unreasonable feelings of shame and guilt;
suicidal thoughts.

Postpartum depression: causes

There is no definite answer to the question why postpartum depression occurs in women after the birth of a child. There are a number of reasons that contribute to the development of this mental disorder.

hereditary factor. Some women are genetically predisposed to depression. They are more prone to mental disorders and emotional disturbances.
Hormonal changes in the body after childbirth. In the postpartum period, hormonal changes occur in the body of a young mother, associated with a decrease in the production of female hormones, as well as with the restoration of thyroid function.
Problems with lactation. Difficulties in breastfeeding: lack of milk, the need to pump, especially at night, sore nipples, lactation crises, lead to anxiety of a young mother, physical and moral exhaustion.
Heavy workload and large amount of homework. In addition to the fact that the appearance of a newborn in the house is a colossal psychological burden, the newly-made mother has to perform a huge number of household duties, including caring for the baby. Sometimes a woman physically does not have time to do all the household chores, not doing anything in a day. As a result, she develops feelings of guilt and emotional burnout. Lack of sleep, as well as lack of rest, does not have the best effect on her condition.
A difficult situation in the family can provoke a depressive state in a young mother. Conflicts and disagreements with a spouse, his unwillingness or inability to help his wife, material problems cause a woman to feel resentment, dissatisfaction with life, despondency, which eventually develop into depression.
The cause of depression can be the birth of an unwanted child, as well as a difficult pregnancy and childbirth. A woman cannot fully enjoy motherhood, but feels lonely, unhappy and depressed.
Lack of attention from her husband. A decrease in sexual desire, chronic fatigue alienates spouses from each other and leads to low self-esteem. A woman considers herself unattractive and unwanted.

Effects of postpartum depression on the baby

A depressed state is dangerous not only for the mental health of a woman, but primarily for her baby. A young mother is not able to fully care for and take care of her baby. The emotional sphere of the child suffers, who needs not only care and attention, but also bodily contact and emotional communication with his mother. Many women with this disorder refuse breastfeeding. The baby does not receive enough attention, warmth and love from the mother, which can negatively affect his emotional and mental development in the future. Children whose mothers have experienced depression have a harder time falling asleep, crying more often, and becoming anxious. In such babies, there is a lag in mental and emotional development, they begin to speak later than other babies.

When does postpartum depression start and how long does it last?

Many women are prone to postpartum depression, especially those who experienced anxiety and nervous tension even while carrying a baby. After the birth of the baby, this condition only gets worse. But most often, signs of postpartum depression appear several weeks or even months after childbirth and last for six months. If a woman's health does not improve, but only gets worse, this indicates a protracted chronic form of the disease, which, without treatment, can drag on for many years. The fault is the reluctance of the woman herself to seek qualified help. A young mother, feeling depressed and powerless, tries her best to deal with all the symptoms on her own, seeks to hide and “disguise” her state of mind from others, is afraid of condemnation and misunderstanding on their part, and does not know how to get out of postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression: Treatment

The well-known doctor Komarovsky argues that postpartum depression is a disease that requires treatment, you can’t leave everything to chance, but you need to help a woman get rid of mental stress. What to do if a young mother is aware of her problem and postpartum depression does not allow her to live normally, enjoying every minute of communication with the baby? A woman definitely needs psychological and physical support, which must be combined with drug treatment. Depending on the severity of the disease, on whether the woman is breastfeeding, the doctor prescribes antidepressants or hormonal drugs. Modern drugs have an effective effect and minimal side effects.

Postpartum depression - psychologist

Positive results and a quick improvement in well-being give consultations with an experienced psychologist or psychotherapist. A specialist will help a young mother change her mindset, correct her behavior, or simply support her with a word that can work wonders.

How to help a young mother get rid of depression at home?

Young mothers mistakenly think that in a depressed state after the birth of the crumbs, they themselves are to blame, and the feeling of guilt aggravates the situation even more. But it's not. Many women around the world suffer from this disease and successfully cope with it, thanks to the support of loved ones and timely psychological assistance. How to avoid postpartum depression? Don't be afraid to ask for help and stick to the following tips to help manage stress, anxiety, and enjoy life.

Pay attention to proper nutrition. The diet should be varied, rich in essential vitamins and minerals that affect good health and provide energy.
An important point in the fight against stress is a good sleep. Be sure to sleep during your child's nap time, homework can wait. Do not forget to pay attention to light physical exercises and relaxing activities: massage, yoga, meditation. Taking a warm bath with aromatic oils helps to relieve tension and gain peace of mind.
Give yourself frequent weekends where you can spend time with your husband, taking care of yourself, or meeting up with a friend. New emotions, impressions will distract him from negative thoughts, charge him with optimism, fill monotonous everyday life with joyful moments. During the rest of the mother, the grandmother or other relatives can sit with the baby, and if there is no one to leave him with, take the baby with you. Time spent together in the fresh air and a change of scenery will benefit both the child and the mother.
Body contact with the baby "skin to skin" helps to get closer to him, get rid of the feeling of alienation, if it manifests itself in a woman. Games, communication, hugs and breastfeeding are the best way to become attached and fall in love with a little man who so needs his mother's affection and care.
Learn to control your emotions and try to avoid negative thoughts.
Do not keep emotions in yourself, share experiences and anxieties with loved ones or find like-minded people on the Internet. There are a large number of forums for mothers, where women share experiences and advice, help each other overcome the problem.

Postpartum depression: reviews

“The baby was eagerly awaited - this is a desired and beloved child. The pregnancy was not easy, the birth was very difficult and long, with many gaps. After the birth, it was so bad that she did not want to see the child. He irritated me. I didn’t want to do anything, I just cried and was annoyed by the crying of the baby. Thanks to my husband, who noticed that something was wrong with me and took me to a psychologist. After a few sessions, I realized the problem and gradually learned to enjoy motherhood.”

“I never thought that this problem would affect me. I have always been an optimist, but after the appearance of a child in the house, they changed me. I was so tired from this constant crying, nights without sleep and normal rest. The child is very restless, requiring constant attention. And there were problems with her husband, it came to a divorce. I stopped taking care of myself, I didn’t care how I looked, I did household chores like a robot, I often cried, there were tantrums and nervous breakdowns. I stayed in this state for more than 3 months, until I turned to a consultation for help, where they advised me a good psychologist.

“None of my relatives noticed or pretended that I was depressed. My husband accused me of my failure to properly care for the child, but I simply had neither physical nor moral strength. In the morning I already woke up exhausted and tired, did not want to see or hear anyone, and my baby suffered from this. Attacks of aggression and constant tantrums nullified our intimate life with my husband. He tried not to show up at home, citing constant delays at work, and I missed his support and help so much! I understood what was happening to me and I needed help, but I did nothing, I wanted to handle it myself. It became easier when the baby grew up a little, I began to spend more time on the street, to meet with friends, I always took her to the shops with me. I didn’t want to sit in 4 walls that oppressed me. ”

It should be remembered that in the depressive state in which the mother is after childbirth, she is not to blame. She is simply not able to cope with her problem on her own, without outside help. Only moral and psychological support, as well as help in household chores from relatives, can bring a woman out of this state of apathy.
She needs her husband's love, attention and care more than ever and helps her feel like a happy, desirable wife and a wonderful caring mother.