How to know if you suffer from postpartum depression

Baby blues are something that almost all mothers go through. However, for many, this turns into postpartum depression and sometimes even psychosis. How do you know if you just have baby blues or if you are actually experiencing postpartum depression ? This article helps pinpoint the warning signs of postpartum depression.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A close freind, relative or spouse
• Determination to beat postpartum depression

1. The first sign of postpartum depression is that it lingers long after the baby blues are supposed to have died down.
   The baby blues usually subside after about 2 weeks, when your baby has established a feeding schedule and a routine is established in the house. If your feelings of being blue exist after this or seem to be getting worse, chances are that you're experiencing the first signs of postpartum depression.
   
   Talk to someone who knows you well like your spouse, a close friend or relative. They will know immediately if you are acting or responding to things in a way that is unusual for your character.
2. After about 2 weeks of feeling blue, depressed, exhausted and sleep deprived, mothers usually recover and begin to get a grip on things. They understand their baby's feeding requirements, breastfeeding becomes and feels more natural and in general the bonding process with your baby truly begins.
   For those suffering from postpartum depression, the period after these initial two weeks just gets worse.
   The mother feels even more overwhelmed, begins to feel an overpowering, crushing sense of responsibility to the baby. Because of these feelings, the mother is unable to maintain a healthy appetite and constantly feels as if they are not doing a good enough job of taking care of their baby. At this point anxiety sets in.
   
   Talk to your OBGYN and your primary care doctor. Also talk to your child pediatrician about how you feel. These professionals are VERY experienced in picking up on the signs of postpartum depression and will be able to recommend immediate treatment.
3. By 4-6 weeks, if you are still feeling blue, emotionally drained, and unable to feel a bond with your baby, you truly are suffering from postpartum depression.
   At this point, feelings of anxiety usually set in. The mother feels anxious every time the baby wakes or cries.
   
   In most cases, this is accompanied by a loss of appetite, breastfeeding suffers, and the mother feels unable to bond with the baby. This may also come with crying fits continuously throughout the day. The mother feels useless as a mom and feels helpless when alone with the baby, unable to determine how to respond to his wants or needs.
   
   Postpartum depression is easily treatable at this stage with mild antidepressant. Many are available which appear is such small amounts in breast milk that breastfeeding can easily continue.
4. After 7-8 weeks, postpartum psychosis may begin to set in, if postpartum depression is left untreated. You may begin to feel that your baby is evil or you may hear voices in your head.
   
   In some cases, the mother may have a strong feeling of being drained of life every time she breastfeeds. She may feel claustrophobic and unable to find pleasure in doing anything. She may not want to go out, or want to eat, to talk, to watch tv. The mother may just want to let it all out by crying and by expressing a desire to want her life to be what it was before she had her baby.
   
   If you feel this way or are beginning to see these signs, you suffer from postpartum depression and perhaps the beginnings of postpartum psychosis. Do not leave this untreated. Seek help. Seek treatment.

Tips & Warnings

• The best way to determine if you are suffering from postpartum depression is to talk to someone who knows you well. Ask them if they think you are behaving erratically, irrationally, or simply are behaving out of your normal character. In my case, my husband told me outright that "this is not who you are, you are suffering from postpartum depression"
• You need to separate feelings of exhaustion and sleep deprivation when trying to evaluate your depression. Feeling exhausted and sleep deprived is NOT postpartum depression.
• Always talk to your OBGYN in detail about how you feel and that you suspect you may be suffering from postpartum depression
• Always talk to your primary care provider even if you suspect you me be beginning to feel depressed
• This is a hormonal imbalance. DO NOT LEAVE UNTREATED.