Postnatal depression (also known as postpartum depression – PND) is a form of depression that can befall women once they gave delivered a baby. It has symptoms that are similar to normal depression, in terms of emotional changes, but it cannot be interpreted and dealt with in the same way.
The symptoms of postnatal depression and ordinary depression are more or less the same, as they both include feelings of listlessness and loss of interest in usually joyous activities.
However, one major characteristic of postnatal depression that distinguishes it from ordinary depression is that the former normally occurs within the first three months after the baby is delivered. It may also be possible that postnatal depression sets in after this timeframe. However, beyond a year, then the problems would be categorized, normally, as regular depression.
In order to determine whether a woman is suffering from postnatal depression, it is important for us to be able to distinguish between two conditions:
- Baby Blues and
- Puerperal Psychosis
While the former is a slight form of a depression and goes away soon after birth, the latter is an extreme form of depression that cannot be categorized as postnatal depression.
It’s very important to help, support the new mother, while she goes through the postnatal period. New responsibilities, the constant caring for her baby, the lack of proper sleep and self-care may make her feel sad and upset about everything. As a result, she would avoid other people because of this depression she experiences.
Many are also some factors that give rise to postnatal depression and we should pay attention to:
- If the new mother doesn’t have any support from her spouse or her family.
- The overall birthing experience and the biological changes within the body that can follow can also trigger the onset of PND.
- Changes in lifestyle and existing relationships in an individual’s life, once their child is born, can also be the cause of them, suffering from postnatal depression.
- If a person has a history of suffering from PND, it is more likely for them to go through it again when their next child is born.
Having a prior knowledge of postnatal depression can help immensely in reading symptoms correctly and seeking appropriate help.
The common behavioral changes a new mother would feel is she suffers from PND are:
- Avoid meeting other people
- Don’t’ like doing thing she used to enjoy in the past
- Feel lethargic or worthless leading her to lose interest in everything
- Not be able to do day-to-day tasks or start doing too much of them
- Be more argumentative, because of her irritability
- Difficult to put off making a decision, because she may feel lack of energy to things about things and make decisions
If you are suffering from postnatal depression, we can help you through become aware of how you empower yourself, physically and emotionally, but most important mentally and psychologically.
Postnatal Depression Awareness Coaching sessions are excellent for new mothers who go through this phase in their lives. During these sessions we also take care and support the mother in a holistic approach, combining with the following:
- Acupuncture sessions, to balance the energy channels of the body and calm down the nervous system
- Therapeutic Massage, to relieve and relax the body from tension and tiredness
- Homeopathy sessions, to ease and comfort the mental and psychic level and enable the new mother to gain more clarity and determination in her new life.
We are here to help you bring out positivity in your life and have a belief in the fact that you will be able to make it through this. Always remember that it is when you try, that you can recover and feel better very soon. We can achieve this together.