11 Dec How do I know if I have postpartum depression?
Understanding Postpartum Depression
by Jennifer Levy, LCPC
The birth of a new baby is often a joyful experience — greatly anticipated. However, up to 30% of women experience difficulty adjusting to this complex transition in their lives. Post-partum depression is experienced, most commonly, after six to eight weeks of giving birth — usually following the more expected “baby blues”. Short-lived, the baby blues are experienced within a few days postpartum and can last as little as a few hours or up to a few days. Typically, the baby blues are experienced as feeling sad, “down,” punctuated with crying and spells of irritability or feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, the baby blues can usually be managed by getting some rest, taking a break and getting needed support from family and friends.
Post-partum depression (PPD)is much more challenging and often strikes women without warning and often without making sense — that is, postpartum depression affects women both with and without a mental health history, women who had healthy pregnancies and uncomplicated deliveries, as well as women who experienced a difficult pregnancy, labor and delivery. In short, no one is immune. While women suffering from PPD can be been overlooked — their symptoms going unrecognized by loved ones and medical providers, PPD is better understood today, and more commonly diagnosed than ever before.
How do you know if you are suffering from Post-partum depression? Review the following Postpartum Symptom Check list taken from This is Not What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression by Karen Kleiman, MSW and Valerie Raskin MD. If you agree with at least four or more of these statements, and these feelings have persisted for at least two or more weeks, you may be suffering from PPD. It’s important to trust yourself — you know better than anyone if your mood, level of day to day functioning and ability to cope has significantly changed since having your baby.
1. I can’t shake feeling depressed no matter what I do
2. I cry at least once a day
3. I feel sad most or all of the time
4. I can’t concentrate
5. I don’t enjoy the things that I used to enjoy
6. I have not interest in making love at all, even though my doctor says I’m now physically able to resume sexual relations
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8. I feel like a failure all of the time
9. I have no energy; I am tired all the time
10. I have no appetite and no enjoyment of food (or I am having sugar and carbohydrate cravings and compulsively eating all the time)
11. I can’t remember the last time I laughed
12. Every little thing gets on my nerves lately. Sometimes I am even furious at m y baby. Often I am angry with my husband.
13. I feel that the future is hopeless
14. It seems like I will feel this way forever
15. There are times when I feel that it would be better to be dead that to feel this way for one more minute.
If you suspect that you are suffering from PPD we encourage you to see a professional health care provider to assess your symptoms and develop a treatment plan that will best meet your needs and hasten your recovery.