One in the 10 new mothers is affected by Postnatal Depression (PND) or baby blues. This happens because of changes in hormonal concentrations which generally affects after delivery.

This depression can remain for certain day or months and sometimes a year also. It can make you feel low, unsure of yourself, exhausted, vulnerable, extra sensitive, unable to make decisions, disturbed. This depression can not recognized immediately in yourself. But you can overcome on that by discussing with your partner or Doctor or midwife or counselor. Do not shy or hesitate to share your problems. Talking with other moms, especially who have experienced of this depression can also help for your recovery.

Factors that increase the risk are:

• Previous history of depression.
• Unsporting partner.
• Premature baby.
• Recent stress like accident or death in family.

How common is it?

Around 1 in every 10 women has PND after having a baby. Without treatment it can last for months, or rarely years.

What are the symptoms of PND?

• Depressed

You feel low, unhappy and wretched for much or all of the time. You may feel worse at particular times of the day, like mornings or evenings. Occasional good days give you hope but they are followed by bad days which make you despair.

• Irritable

You may get irritable with other children, occasionally, with your baby, but most often with your partner. He or she may well not understand what is happening.

• Tired

All new mothers get pretty weary, but depression can make you feel so utterly exhausted that you feel physically ill.

• Sleepless

Even though you are tired, you can’t fall asleep. You wake at the crack of dawn, even if your partner has fed the baby overnight.

• Not hungry

You lose your appetite and forget to eat, which can make you feel irritable and run down. Some people eat for comfort and then feel bad about putting on weight.

• Unable to enjoy anything

You find that you can’t enjoy or be interested in anything.

• Sex

Your partner may want the comfort and intimacy of sex again – but you’re just not interested. Of course, there are other reasons to lose interest in sex after having a baby – it may be painful, you may be too tired, or you may be just trying to adjust to the new situation – but PND will take away any desire or enthusiasm. If your partner does not understand this, they may feel rejected.

• Unable to cope

PND can make you feel that you have no time, can’t do anything well, and that you can’t do anything about it. You may find it hard to organize a routine with your baby.

• Guilty

Depression changes your thinking and makes you see things negatively. You may feel guilty, useless or that you are responsible for feeling like this.

• Anxious

You may worry so much that your baby might scream, or choke, or be harmed in some way that you are afraid to be alone with him or her. Instead of feeling close to your baby, you may feel detached. You can’t work out what your baby is feeling, or what your baby needs.

Even if you have strong loving feelings for your baby, you can still feel anxious. Most new mothers worry about their baby’s health, but PND can make this overwhelming. You may worry:

• That you might lose your baby through an infection, mishandling, faulty development or a ‘cot death’
• About ‘snuffles’, or how much weight your baby is putting on
• If your baby is crying or is too quiet, or if they have stopped breathing
• That you might harm your baby
• About your own health

You may find that you need reassurance all the time from your partner, the health visitor, the GP, your family or a neighbor. You may feel panicky – your pulse races, your heart thumps and you may feel that you have heart disease or are on the brink of a stroke. You may wonder if you have some dreadful illness, or if you will ever have any energy again. The fear of being left alone with all this can cause even the most capable person to cling desperately to their partner, not wanting to be left alone.

Go for regular exercises and yoga which give you relif from this depression.

Doesn’t everybody get depressed after having a baby?

No. About half of new mothers will feel a bit weepy, flat and unsure of themselves on the third or fourth day after having a baby. This is known as the ‘baby blues’, and it passes after a few days.

When does PND happen?

Most cases of PND start within a month of giving birth, but it can start up to six months later.

What causes PND?

We don’t know enough to be sure who will or won’t get it. There is probably no single reason, but a number of different stresses may add up to cause it. You are more likely to have PND if you:

• have had depression (especially PND) before
• do not have a supportive partner
• have a premature or sick baby
• lost your own mother when you were a child
• have had several recent life stresses – bereavement, unemployment, housing or money problems

Even so, PND can start for no obvious reason, without any of these stresses. And having these problems does not mean that you will definitely have PND.

What about hormones?

Levels of estrogen, progesterone (and other hormones to do with conception and birth) drop suddenly after the baby is born. It’s not clear exactly how they affect your mood and emotions. No real differences have been found between women who do and do not get PND, and research does not suggest that this is a major reason for depression. Hormone changes may be more important in the baby blues and puerperal psychosis.

After the baby has arrived:

• DO tell someone about how you feel. Many other women have gone through the same experience. If you don’t feel you can talk to your family or friends, talk to your health visitor or GP. They will know that these feelings are common and will be able to help.
• DO take every opportunity to get your head down. See if you can cat-nap. Your partner can give the baby a bottle-feed at night. If you like, you can use your own expressed breast milk for this.
• DO eat well. Healthy foods like salads, fresh vegetables, fruit, fruit juices, milk and cereals are all nice, packed with vitamins and don’t need much cooking.
• DO find time to have fun with your partner. Try to find a baby-sitter and get out together for a meal, a show or to see friends.
• DO let yourself and your partner be intimate if you can: at least kiss and cuddle, stroke and fondle. This will comfort you both and lead to the return of full sexual feelings sooner. Don’t feel guilty if this takes some time.
• DON’T blame yourself or your partner: life is tough at this time, and tiredness and irritability on both sides can lead to quarrels. ‘Having a go’ at each other will weaken your relationship when it needs to be at its strongest.
• Don’t be frightened by the diagnosis. You know what is wrong, that many others have had the same experience and that you will get better in time. Your partner, friends or family can be more helpful and understanding if they know what the problem is.

But you can overcome from this problem definitely!!! All the best to you..