Identifying the Signs and Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum.

Most expecting moms are terrified of this word. Often it is because they don’t know much about it or maybe even too scared to talk about it because of its fear. But, let’s face it, postpartum is all too common in mothers (and fathers experience it too). 1 in 5 mothers experiences postpartum depression! Therefore, it is imperative to understand the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression. Through this post, I hope to educate you on the signs and characteristics of postpartum depression.

Feelings of Anger or Irritability.

Have you experienced increased anger or irritability? This may mean that people and/or things irritate you more quickly or intensely than average. You may have noticed that things prior did not annoy you, but now you struggle to not react angrily.

Lack of Interest in the Baby.

Have you noticed that your baby annoys you, or you do not feel like being bothered? In some instances, mothers struggling with postpartum are not interested in tasks such as feeding, burping, putting the baby to sleep, playing, etc. Mothers who may be experiencing PPD could be struggling to engage and bond with their babies.

Appetite and Sleep Disturbance.

Most mothers struggle with normalized sleep with babies due to complicated sleeping patterns. However, if you notice you are not sleeping well when the baby is sleeping or other normalized times to sleep, then this may be an area of concern. Often new mothers struggle to eat because maybe they are exhausted, don’t have time, etc. These may be normal but not having an appetite is not, especially if you are breastfeeding.

Crying and Sadness.

Crying or sadness is another symptom. This can be crying with an unknown trigger; maybe you burst into tears just out of the blue. Other instances of this may include having an overall low mood and just feeling down.

Feelings of Guilt, Shame, or Hopelessness.

Being a new mother is overwhelming! Feelings of guilt, shame, or hopelessness are challenging to manage. Guilt may look like enjoying the time when the baby is gone. Shame can appear as being down on yourself for even experiencing negative feelings. Hopelessness is when you are unable to identify positives in your future, or maybe you feel like this will never end, and you will always feel sad, depressed, etc.

Loss of Interest, Joy or Pleasure in Things You Used to Enjoy.

If you have noticed that there are certain things that you previously enjoyed, such as reading, listening to music, watching TV, cooking, etc., and you no longer enjoy these, you could be experiencing depression. There may be people you no longer want to be around in your life. It is important to have things that still make you smile, laugh, or enjoy. If you cannot identify any, this may be a sign.

Possible Thoughts of Harming the Baby or Yourself.

This is serious, and there is no judgment. Women often struggle with thoughts to harm themselves or the baby. If you have any thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby, please seek help. This does not mean that you are a bad mother or would even harm your baby, but PPD is strong, and you and the baby must be as safe as possible.

If you think you are struggling, please reach out for help. The best way to get diagnosed is to reach out to an experienced professional, either an OBGYN, therapist, nurse, etc. This list is not exhaustive and may not precisely capture what you are going through.

https://postpartumva.org/ PSI is a great resource to use as they have virtual support groups and a directory of providers who can assist you with working through this.