What is Postpartum Depression?
Many women feel the "baby blues" after giving birth. This is characterized by mood swings and feelings of ambivalence towards motherhood, mild depression, and occasional uncontrollable crying. These blues could be caused by hormonal changes, how labour, birth, and motherhood are treated in modern society, or the isolation that new mothers often feel.
Lack of sleep is also a factor. Some women, up to 11 per cent to 15% of new mothers, experience postpartum depression or baby blues. In this situation, it is important to look for postpartum treatment as soon as possible.
Warning signs of postpartum depression
Some warning signs may appear for mothers who might be suffering from PPD. These symptoms can be severe and you should seek medical attention if you or someone you care about is experiencing them.
Uncontrollable crying
Postpartum depression is characterized by a lot of crying that doesn't have a reason. A normal response is to cry over a sad movie or long-distance commercial. However, crying for no apparent reason may indicate PPD.
Insistence in the baby
PPD affects women who are unable to focus and have little interest in their infants. This side effect is often not openly acknowledged by many women, even if it causes them to feel bad as mothers. It is normal for PPD to have a lack of interest in the child. This is a common symptom for many mothers.