Is There Such a Thing as Postpartum Depression?

There has been much debate over the subject of postpartum depression these days, no small part of which are comments made by some that not only can this condition be treated by “vitamins and exercise” but by the fact that some even debate whether the condition actually exists in the first place. If you’re a new mom and think that you are experiencing postpartum depression but are afraid of talking to anyone because of what they might say, please keep reading.

The first thing to remember about any case of depression is that there are new facts being learned about it every single day. The more scientists are able to understand about how the body and the brain work together, the more accurate they are in medical diagnoses. Many doctors agree that postpartum depression does exist and is the result of a wide combination of factors. A new mother is facing a surge of female hormones that often trigger emotional episodes, including depression. Many of her body’s systems are also maladjusted, and this includes some of the chemicals in the brain that regulate mood. On top of all of these things, postpartum depression may also be caused or aggravated by her lack of sleep from having to get up and take care of the baby several times during the night. This combination of factors of course affects a mother’s health and emotional state!

It’s thought that some cases of postpartum depression are more likely to strike women who are already prone to depression or who have had this condition even before becoming pregnant. This seems like a logical conclusion; if a woman has a tendency to be overweight before becoming pregnant it’s likely that she will have a more difficult time taking off the weight after pregnancy. Having a condition before pregnancy would logically make one more prone to having it after pregnancy, and postpartum depression is no different.

There are also some who believe that many cases of postpartum depression are brought on by several emotional factors, not just physical ones. Some women have built themselves up to expect that motherhood will be this euphoric time of constant happiness, but then the reality of taking care of a crying child sets in. This disappointment can reach the point of depression. Or some who experience postpartum depression have expected the child to solve problems in their life, such as bringing them closer to their spouse, or making up for a lack of self-esteem, and so on. When these things don’t happen just automatically with the arrival of the baby, the mother feels angry, guilty, let down, and so on. This too can progress to the point of postpartum depression.

Doctors today are becoming more responsive to the condition and are more aware and alert to what it means and what may legitimately cause it. There are medications available to get a woman through as well as support groups for those with postpartum depression that may help, so talk to your doctor about your condition today.

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