Many people mistakenly believe that a joyful event never leads to depression. Official statistics say: from 10 to 15% of new mothers face serious psychological disorders that arise after childbirth (some sources put the figure at 40%). Unlike prenatal depression, postpartum depression is more common and carries a much greater danger.
According to scientists, this pathological condition negatively affects not only the mother, but also her baby. In severe cases, mothers mutilate their children and kill themselves. The long-term consequences of this disease are also quite serious. A child whose mother once suffered from postpartum depression has a greater risk of becoming an alcoholic in adulthood and developing many complexes against the background of low self-esteem.
Causes of postnatal mental disorders
This type of disorder after childbirth is detected in 10-15% of mothers who give birth.
The following factors contribute to its formation:
- Hereditary predisposition. Cases of emotional disorders, a tendency to depression in relatives, and other mental pathologies increase the risk of developing pathology.
- Hormonal imbalance. During pregnancy and during childbirth, disruptions in the production of ovarian and thyroid hormones are detected in the body of women in labor and postpartum. Endocrine insufficiency, or hormonal excess, often leads to emotional abnormalities, disrupts the functioning of the central nervous system, causes apathy, depression and other symptoms.
- Fear of harming the child through inept actions (a reason often found among first-time mothers).
- Lack of sleep, night crying, constant psychophysical stress.
- Domestic difficulties, lack of help from loved ones.
- Intrafamily misunderstandings, reproaches from husbands and relatives that the child’s mother is doing everything wrong.
Most often, depressive disorder occurs due to a combination of several causes. A hereditarily vulnerable type of nervous system is affected by a failure in the production of neurotransmitters (serotonin, norepinephrine), which are the main stimulants of emotions. They are accompanied by hormonal deficiency and psychophysical overload.
Why does postpartum depression occur?
The development of this pathology is associated with the reaction of the psyche to physiological changes occurring in the body during childbirth, as well as after it. We are talking about blood loss, hormonal changes, lack of sleep, fatigue, a new regime, a shift in emphasis in the behavior of loved ones and relatives, fear of making a mistake, and lack of attention from the husband.
The following factors also play an important role:
— low socio-economic status; - difficult pregnancy; - negative events in life; - age over 40 years; — lack of professional education; - complete cessation of work before childbirth; - alcoholism, etc.
COST OF TREATMENT FOR MENTAL DISEASES
The duration of treatment in a hospital is from 14 to 90 days, depending on the severity of the disease.
TREATMENT IN A HOSPITAL.
AMBULATORY TREATMENT
TREATMENT IN A HOSPITAL
Inpatient treatment – accommodation options
| Accommodation in a triple room | 10,000 rub./day |
| Double room | RUB 13,800/day |
| Single room of increased comfort | 16,000 rub./day |
| Treatment in a single VIP ward | 25,000 rub./day |
AMBULATORY TREATMENT
Ambulatory treatment
| psychiatrist | FOR FREE |
| Consultation with a psychiatrist (first appointment) – free of charge during hospitalization | 3,000 rub. |
| Full psychodiagnostics (all tests and procedures) | from 5,000 rub. |
| Appointment with the head physician of the clinic | 4,500 rub. |
| Consultation with a psychiatrist at home | from 4,000 rub. |
FREE CONSULTATION
How can we help?
It is important to combine the efforts of the mother herself, her environment and doctors. The first step for a woman is to realize her condition, share her feelings with loved ones, and seek help. It is important for relatives not to judge the mother for these feelings and not to brush them aside, to listen to complaints, assess the situation, and become a support for her. Words of comfort, encouragement and love, combined with practical household help, can alleviate the mother's condition. Depression is accompanied by a serious decrease in self-esteem, so do not forget to remind the woman that despite her worries, she can become a wonderful mother for her child, that she has enough internal resources to take care of him. Tell her that she is strong and brave for speaking out about her experiences. And remind her that the best thing she can do for her child is to take care of herself.
The mother herself should be more attentive and sensitive to her mood and well-being. And at the first signs of depression, make an effort to try to get out of this state, talk about it, and accept help.
Books for young mothers who have lost the joy of life
- Anastasia Izyumskaya, Anna Kuusmaa “Mom at Zero” (Scooter, 2018)
- Wendy Bloomfield "Life after childbirth" (Resource, 2018)
- Ksenia Krasilnikova “I’m not just tired. How to recognize and overcome postpartum depression" (Individual Publishing, 2019)
Look for positive emotions. Get plenty of rest: household chores can wait! If you used to be a perfectionist both in your profession and in maintaining home comfort, after the birth of your child, allow yourself not to be a superman, accept that for a while your home will not be perfect. Take a walk with a stroller in a park or square - nature has a healing effect. Do not limit communication with your friends, even by phone: in difficult moments it is better to talk it out. Don't forget about physical exercise: even a small set of exercises every day can be an effective way to combat depression.
Signs and symptoms of the disease state
Manifestations of a mental disorder make themselves felt both immediately after childbirth and after some period of time. Tension, fatigue and other negative aspects tend to accumulate. And at a certain point, a maladaptive breakdown occurs that requires treatment.
Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression in women:
- Constant depression, tearfulness, attacks of aggression.
- A sharp change in emotional response (from fleeting joy to deep depression).
- Insomnia, loss of appetite, emaciation, haggard appearance.
- Self-deprecation, feeling like a “worthless mother”, self-blame.
- Closedness, reluctance to communicate with other people.
- Thoughts about causing physical harm to yourself and/or your child.
In psychiatry, postpartum depression is classified by severity into:
- Easy.
- Average.
- Heavy.
According to the symptomatic picture, the following are distinguished:
- Hidden form.
- Neurotic option.
- Depressive delirium.
Classification factors must be taken into account by the doctor before deciding how to treat postpartum depression.
The latent variant lasts for a long time, manifesting itself as disguised signs and complaints.
Patients complain about:
- Constant fatigue and weakness.
- Reluctance to do something “as if under a stick.”
- Irritability and frequent crying.
This type of patient does not consider their condition to be a disease, and does not think about how to get rid of postpartum depression and undergo a course of treatment. Signs of a mild form in most cases disappear on their own over time.
The neurotic variant causes characteristic symptoms. It develops mainly against the background of experienced anxieties, threats, and dangers during pregnancy and childbirth.
Sick women experience:
- A constant background of anxiety with periodic panic attacks.
- The painful expectation that the child or they themselves will get sick with something serious or die. Often the phobia extends to the possibility of family breakdown.
- Periodic outbreaks of dysphoria and aggression.
- Autonomic disorders: palpitations, headaches, sweating, pressing sensations in the chest.
- Weight loss, loss of appetite, signs of weakness.
Such mothers overprotect the newborn, trying in every possible way to protect their children from possible infection, drafts, and other harmful factors. This concern becomes obsessive and destructive. In this type of woman, postpartum depression may worsen even more when the second child is born.
Depressive delirium is one of the most severe forms of the disease.
It is characterized by the presence of:
- Severe psychomotor retardation.
- A growing sense of guilt, turning into delusional statements and overvalued ideas about one’s unworthiness to be a mother, self-accusation. Patients may not go to bed on the bed, but sleep under it, considering themselves unworthy to lie as a person.
- Suicidal tendencies.
The depressive form often develops into postpartum psychosis.
What can help from loved ones consist of?
Relatives and friends can provide significant help in caring for your child and home, as well as in overcoming symptoms of depression, the main thing is not to be shy about asking them about it. What can you do for a loved one suffering from PDD? First of all, you need to: • Listen carefully to all the complaints of the mother and/or father of the recently born baby, and take them with the utmost seriousness. Motivate to see a doctor for advice, diagnosis and, if necessary, treatment. • Provide all possible psychological and physical support, for example, sit with the child while the parents take care of themselves - go to the movies, meet friends, take a walk in the fresh air, or even just get some sleep. • Help with household chores to relieve mommy a little from everyday worries.
When offering to help, do not criticize new parents in any way. Let your advice be constructive, friendly, do not hurt pride and leave the right of choice to the parents. Keep in mind that with PPD, mothers and fathers are extremely irritable, touchy and do not fully control their emotions, so be prepared for negativity on their part and never take the “humiliated and insulted” pose. Otherwise, your good intentions will remain unfulfilled.
And in conclusion, I would like to say that postpartum depression is a disease that requires treatment, which involves the psychotherapist, the patient with PPD and the close circle of patients. You shouldn’t suffer alone, go to people, don’t be afraid of criticism and feel free to talk about your problems. Only by discussing the situation with a doctor in individual sessions or with other parents in a group, following all the recommendations of your psychotherapist, will you be able to regain your normal state of mind, the ability to have fun and enjoy life with your baby and your partner.
Diagnostic features
Before you figure out what to do with postpartum depression, you should correctly diagnose and identify the variant of the disease.
In our clinic for these purposes we use:
- Clinical and anamnestic analysis. The doctor examines and interviews the patient, finds out all the nuances of the development of disorders, establishes the causes and leading symptoms.
- Psychodiagnostics using the Edinburgh scale, tests and questionnaires.
- Laboratory diagnostics. In addition to clinical tests, the doctor may prescribe hormones and other endocrinological tests.
Professional help
A good way to combat postpartum depression is psychotherapy sessions. They help a woman increase her self-esteem, stimulate her to communicate with her baby, and restore interest in life. A specialist will tell you how to properly relax and take care of yourself, for example, recommend art therapy, meditation or yoga. Close relatives of the young mother are often invited to sessions, because without their support, healing is impossible.
In some cases, medication may be required, and this is not something to be afraid of. If you consulted a doctor, it only means that you are a thinking mother who cares about her well-being. First, you will need to take some tests - for example, a lack of thyroid hormones or estrogen can aggravate a depressive state. The doctor will adjust your hormonal levels and prescribe treatment with antidepressants. Many women are reluctant to take these medications for fear of addiction or the need to wean their baby. It is important to know that there are now mild medications that are compatible with breastfeeding, and the course of therapy usually lasts only a few weeks.
Ask your doctor to check the drug prescribed to you for compatibility with breastfeeding.
