Abstract
This paper is to inform on postpartum depression, and the stigma attached to it. Many women suffer from postpartum depression yet are undiagnosed, feel stigmatized by society, or have little to no support. Biological, psychological, and cultural issues are theorized as the causes of postpartum depression. According to the Center for Disease Control, that nationally 1 in 9 women experience symptoms of postpartum depression. Women tend to feel guilt and fear when they experience depression after childbirth. They do not always seek help, or they lack support and can feel alone and broken. Postpartum affects all types of women and does not discriminate based on age, race, or socioeconomic background. Individuals can educate themselves on predispositions, symptoms, and treatments for postpartum depression. The hope is to shed light on and bring awareness to postpartum depression, through statistics and future research. Women need support, to know they are not alone, and that there are therapies and medications for relief from depression.
Keywords: postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, perinatal disorder, postpartum disorders, postpartum psychosis
Postpartum Depression: Happiness Replaced
To start, postpartum disorder describes the range of emotional, physical, and behavioral challenges often experienced by new mothers. Symptoms can range from mild to severe. While many new mothers experience a mild, brief bout of "baby blues," others suffer from postpartum depression, a much more serious condition. In some cases, new mothers may have postpartum psychosis, which is rare, but severe and incapacitating(Psychology Today). By knowing the predispositions, symptoms, causes, and treatments, then it can help women suffering from postpartum depression. Additionally, it can keep performing studies to find a known cause for postpartum depression.
Literature review
Consequently, some factors that predispose women to postpartum depression are an earlier episode of depression during a subsequent pregnancy or pre-pregnancy, stressful home life, and unwanted or ambivalent pregnancy. Specifically, women with previous depression have an increased risk of 30% (Psychology Today). Stresses from their environment also play into being at-risk for postpartum depression. Marital issues, known defects with the baby, and job-related problems are a few examples (Women’s Health). Having an unwanted pregnancy or feeling ambivalent about the pregnancy can also cause postpartum depression.
Similarly, the symptoms of postpartum depression are the same as clinical depression except for a few additional symptoms. Additional symptoms mothers may experience are thoughts or fears of harming their baby, lack of concern or overly concerned with the baby, fears of not being a good mother(American Psychological Association), and feelings of guilt for feeling the way they do(Women’s Health).
Unfortunately, while the exact cause of postpartum depression is unknown, biology, psychology, and culture are the theorized causes. For example, biologically after birth the thyroid gland, that regulates hormones, drops production significantly(Psychology Today). The hormones estrogen and progesterone are at its highest when pregnant. These hormones drop quickly back to pre-pregnancy levels within 24 hours of giving birth(Women’s Health). Alternatively, psychological factors are vast. Most mothers experience stress, sleeplessness, and fatigue, which all can contribute to a depressed mental state. Many Mothers feel inadequate, guilty, trapped, and sad during the first few weeks after birth. Mothers with ambivalence towards the baby tend to have increased depression compared to mothers who have a positive attitude towards the pregnancy(Psychology Today). Mother’s place guilt on themselves for not being able to or not wanting to breastfeed. For instance, women who have c-sections tend to have lower self-esteem and are more likely to have postpartum depression than women who deliver vaginally. Also, another cause could be health issues with the baby like preterm births and birth defects.
Finally, Culture plays a role in the depressive disorder. Postpartum depression is lower in non-western cultures. Mothers in non-western countries have more support with housework and childcare. While they are resting from giving birth and caring for a new infant, family and friends understand and help support the mother. In particular, the U.S., only 18 percent of new moms get more than 2 weeks of assistance with housework and only 20 percent have help with childcare past the first week postpartum.
Furthermore, treatments for women with postpartum depression are like any other form of depression. In fact, they can take an antidepressant medication like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), these affect neurotransmitters like dopamine or norepinephrine or seek psychotherapy. Postpartum depression can be treated with two types of psychotherapy. The first is Interpersonal Therapy which focuses on the improvement of current relationships. The other is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy which focuses on changing negative thinking patterns(APA).
Results & Discussion
Ultimately, 50 percent of women with postpartum distress have symptoms that go undetected(Kleiman, 2011). For one thing, women are not speaking up and letting their health care provider know the feelings they are having. We assume that some of the symptoms of postpartum depression are causing women to not speak up. Considering, women feel they can do it all and do not ask for help and that our society has isolated mothers, western society could take a page from non-western societies and help support our new moms after birth. Even more, loved ones may be the first to recognize signs of depression and should encourage the mother to seek medical help and a support group. Family and friends can also help by alleviating some stress from the mother by helping with the home or other children if she has any. The fact that, 91 percent of women experience obsessive thoughts after birth(Kleiman, 2011), is more proof that mothers need not be ashamed. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, Without treatment, postpartum depression can last for months or years. In addition to affecting the mother’s health, it can interfere with her ability to connect with and care for her baby and may cause the baby to have problems with sleeping, eating, and behavior as he or she grows.
Limitations & Future Study
Regarding the cause of postpartum depression, is still unknown. Postpartum depression and why some women are predisposed in currently being researched. In a study, from Tufts University School of Medicine, Neuroscientists have generated a novel preclinical model of postpartum depression and demonstrated involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (the neuroendocrine system that mediates physiological response to stress and is normally suppressed during and after pregnancy). These findings in mice provide the first empirical evidence that disruption of this system engenders behaviors mimicking human postpartum depression(Science Daily, 2017). The fact that there is hope that they will know the exact cause and be able to treat postpartum depression before women start showing symptoms is a positive movement in the right direction.
Conclusions
To close, many women experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression go undiagnosed, feel stigmatized by society, or have little to no support. Indeed, it is seen that postpartum disorder has a range of symptoms and causes. However, by being informed and aware it can help women suffering from postpartum depression. There are biological, psychological, and cultural theories as to the cause of postpartum depression, but there needs to be more research done on the actual cause. Nevertheless, women need support, to know they are not alone. More importantly, future research may hold the key to treat postpartum depression before the symptoms surface. In the meantime, there are therapies and medications for relief from depression. Admittedly, the hope is that the research studies are successful in finding the known cause and combating postpartum depression before the hopelessness of this disorder plagues future mothers. Above all, the first few weeks of motherhood are beautiful, yet for some, it is a nightmare where happiness has been replaced by sadness.