Post delivery depression is not uncommon in new mothers. It may last for about a fortnight to a month or even a few more weeks. Read about the common symptoms of post delivery depression. Before charting out the symptoms, let us discuss very briefly the condition called post delivery depression. This is like any other mental health condition, the only difference being that it is considered to be ‘natural’ as most women are found to experience it. It is primarily brought about by rapid alterations in the reproductive hormonal levels after childbirth. Besides the biological factors there are several other factors like environmental and social that bring about or enhance the post delivery depression. The stress of raising a new life also adds to the casual factors. In this articleSymptoms of Post Delivery Depression Overwhelming Feeling of SadnessIncreased Sensitivity to Little ThingsDrop in Patience and Tolerance Levels Tendency to Withdraw From RelationshipsPersistent Feeling of GuiltOther Symptoms of Post Delivery Depression Symptoms of Post Delivery Depression Given below are some of the common symptoms of post delivery depression. Mostly observed within a couple of days of the birth of the child to say about a week, the depression “normally” stays for about a fortnight to a month or even a few more weeks. But if the symptoms escalate and persist, it is time for serious clinical intervention. Overwhelming Feeling of Sadness There is an overwhelming feeling of sadness, the woman begins to feel that everything in her life has changed and she develops a foreboding feeling of emptiness. This might be coupled with emotional numbness towards her partner, family and friends and in severe cases even towards her baby. Increased Sensitivity to Little Things She is emotionally always on the edge. Even the minute of action or reaction might provoke her to fly off her handles. She is prone to feel very touchy on every little thing happening or being said around. This results in sudden and frequent bouts of crying.Drop in Patience and Tolerance Levels Her patience and tolerance levels drop to near zero. She gets highly irritable or angry with people or things happening around her. She desires for and sometimes demands constant attention, depending on her personality. Any perceived or imagined change is interpreted by her as neglect. Tendency to Withdraw From Relationships Some women show a tendency to withdraw from relationships, be it with her partner, her family members, her once close friends or society at large. She seems to be highly disinterested in activities that were once very exciting to her. Persistent Feeling of Guilt She harbours a persistent feeling of guilt and inadequacy. She fears that she is a complete failure as a responsible mother. An overwhelming fear envelops her, what if she is unable to provide a secure and happy upbringing for her baby. She begins to live with this fear. Other Symptoms of Post Delivery Depression Here are some other symptoms of post delivery depression. There is a constant feeling of exhaustion and tiredness. She loses all motivation and energy even to perform her regular activities. She is permanently stressed out.When these feelings of inadequacy or fear become overwhelming, she is gradually found to lose interest in the baby. It is like as if she has mentally resigned to her perception that she is a complete failure as an ideal or a good mother.All these factors gradually culminate to suicidal tendencies or the desire to end her life. The fact that she fears that she might be unwillingly harming her baby, makes her desire that she ought to die before she witnesses anything bad happening to her baby.If post delivery depression is left untreated, it might escalate to post delivery psychosis which displays more severe symptoms. The woman begins to nurture delusions or live in false beliefs. She might nurture suspicions even on her well-wishers and refuse to take any help from people around her. She might suffer from hallucinations and complain of seeing things or hearing voices or sounds that are not real. This only but enhances her fears. In extreme cases, the mother might even want to harm her own baby. It has been observed that in such acute cases, the mother believes that there are people around who might harm her little one, and she therefore covers the baby with a thick blanket so as to ‘protect’ him from the ‘intruders’. In this manner she might just end up cutting off the air supply needed for breathing resulting in fatal consequences for the baby.
Post delivery depression is not uncommon in new mothers. It may last for about a fortnight to a month or even a few more weeks. Read about the common symptoms of post delivery depression. Before charting out the symptoms, let us discuss very briefly the condition called
post delivery depression. This is like any other mental health condition, the only difference being that it is considered to be ‘natural’ as most women are found to experience it. It is primarily brought about by rapid alterations in the reproductive hormonal levels after
childbirth. Besides the biological factors there are several other factors like environmental and social that bring about or enhance the post delivery depression. The stress of raising a new life also adds to the casual factors.
Symptoms of Post Delivery Depression
Given below are some of the common symptoms of post delivery depression.
Mostly observed within a couple of days of the birth of the child to say about a week, the depression “normally” stays for about a fortnight to a month or even a few more weeks. But if the symptoms escalate and persist, it is time for serious clinical intervention.
Overwhelming Feeling of Sadness
There is an overwhelming feeling of sadness, the woman begins to feel that everything in her life has changed and she develops a foreboding feeling of emptiness. This might be coupled with emotional numbness towards her partner, family and friends and in severe cases even towards her baby.
Increased Sensitivity to Little Things
She is emotionally always on the edge. Even the minute of action or reaction might provoke her to fly off her handles. She is prone to feel very touchy on every little thing happening or being said around. This results in sudden and frequent bouts of crying.
Drop in Patience and Tolerance Levels
Her patience and tolerance levels drop to near zero. She gets highly irritable or angry with people or things happening around her. She desires for and sometimes demands constant attention, depending on her personality. Any perceived or imagined change is interpreted by her as neglect.
Tendency to Withdraw From Relationships
Some women show a tendency to withdraw from relationships, be it with her partner, her family members, her once close friends or society at large. She seems to be highly disinterested in activities that were once very exciting to her.
Persistent Feeling of Guilt
She harbours a persistent feeling of guilt and inadequacy. She fears that she is a complete failure as a responsible mother. An overwhelming fear envelops her, what if she is unable to provide a secure and happy upbringing for her baby. She begins to live with this fear.
Other Symptoms of Post Delivery Depression
Here are some other symptoms of post delivery depression.
- There is a constant feeling of exhaustion and tiredness. She loses all motivation and energy even to perform her regular activities. She is permanently stressed out.
- When these feelings of inadequacy or fear become overwhelming, she is gradually found to lose interest in the baby. It is like as if she has mentally resigned to her perception that she is a complete failure as an ideal or a good mother.
- All these factors gradually culminate to suicidal tendencies or the desire to end her life. The fact that she fears that she might be unwillingly harming her baby, makes her desire that she ought to die before she witnesses anything bad happening to her baby.
If post delivery depression is left untreated, it might escalate to post delivery psychosis which displays more severe symptoms. The woman begins to nurture delusions or live in false beliefs. She might nurture suspicions even on her well-wishers and refuse to take any help from people around her. She might suffer from hallucinations and complain of seeing things or hearing voices or sounds that are not real. This only but enhances her fears.
In extreme cases, the mother might even want to harm her own baby. It has been observed that in such acute cases, the mother believes that there are people around who might harm her little one, and she therefore covers the baby with a thick blanket so as to ‘protect’ him from the ‘intruders’. In this manner she might just end up cutting off the air supply needed for breathing resulting in fatal consequences for the baby.
