May 31, 05 | 5:00 am
Struggling with Postpartum Depression
"I just want to die!" sobs Rachel, a 31 year old woman and first-time mother. Her concerned husband describes how his wife can barely dress herself or even look at their five week old son. Rachel may feel alone in her feelings, but she is just one of the millions of women suffering from Postpartum Depression (PPD). An estimated 10-15% of new mothers experience
PPD. It is a treatable medical problem that does not discriminate, affecting women of various ages, races and backgrounds. Yet, unlike Rachel, there are still many women who do not seek help for their condition. PPD can have devastating effects on a mother's ability to care for her child, leading to guilt and even deeper depression in the mother. Certainly families feel the impact of an impaired mother. Missed newborn appointments, lack of bonding and stimulation can delay the baby's development. Likewise, it is fair to say that the extended families, mployers, teachers, and friends of the depressed mother feel the direct and reverberating consequences.
Postpartum mood disorders have gained more awareness, especially with women like Brooke Shields and Marie Osmond sharing their personal experiences. You may recall the story of Melanie Blocker Stokes, who jumped to her death from a 12th-story window in June 2001, five months after giving birth. Her mother, Carol Blocker has attempted to educate others about her daughter's illness on TV shows like Oprah and Life & Style. You may have also heard the story of Andrea Campanari, a 33-year-old woman from Evanston, IL who committed suicide in the bathroom of a Chicago bagel shop a week after the birth of her son. Countless women are scared of the stigma associated with PPD. It is often traumatic for a mother to admit that she is having negative thoughts about her own child or about herself and many women are afraid of the outcome of admitting their feelings. Will their child be taken away? Will their family abandon them? Will they have to take medication? Confronting and admitting their depression is frequently more distressing than simply tolerating their illness. But it is important
for mothers with PPD to get help and to understand that they are not alone. That they can get better with treatment. We do not need to be reminded of the heartbreaking stories of the women above to see the consequence of postpartum mood disorders.
With any birth, a short period of "baby blues" maylast up to 10 days. This is normal considering therapid drop in hormones, new responsibility of an infant and the physical strain on the body from laborand childbirth. PPD differs from "baby blues" in that it is much more intense and lasts longer as it affects the well-being of the mother. It can happen any time
within the first year of childbirth and it is a much more serious condition. The mother may feel symptoms such as lack of concentration, fear of harming their child or themselves, respondency, hostility, chest pains, headaches, change in diet, anxiety, uncontrollable crying or loss of interest in regular activities. Postpartum psychosis, a severe illness, occurs in 1 out of 1,000 pregnancies a year. Symptoms include emotional incapacitation, delusions, thoughts
of harm to the baby or another family member, and rapid mood swings. Five percent of women with Postpartum Psychosis commit suicide and 5% kill their children. Women with a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia are at a greater risk of developing Postpartum Psychosis.
How to Cope with PPD:
-Talk to your Doctor. Keep your doctor updated on your feelings. If your regular doctor does not seem connected enough to you and the situation, find a psychiatrist or psychologist to confide in.
-Get as much sleep as you can and conversely, make sure you shower and get dressed daily so that you feel fresh.
-When you feel overwhelmed, ask for help with childcare or household chores.
-Avoid isolation. Have lunch with a friend, spend quality time with your spouse/partner and try to get out of the house. Distract yourself from the depression with activities you might enjoy.
-Talk about your feelings with your spouse/partner, family and your friends. It is essential to rely on your loved ones for emotional support.
-Seek out Local Support groups or a Hotline for new mothers
-Talk out your feelings in a diary-- this is especially helpful if you are embarrassed or ashamed to talk to your family. It may be hard to confine your feelings to paper but it may be helpful in learning and exploring those feelings.
-Do not push yourself or set unrealistic goals in completing your regular tasks.
You deserve to feel healthy and happy. As daunting as it may be to admit that you are depressed, it is important to seek help and it does not mean that you are a failure as a mother. To get well, you need to reach out to family and friends for support and focus
on nurturing yourself and your family. For additional help and resources, you can call the
National Postpartum Depression Warmline 24 hours day at 1-800-PPD-MOMS (773-6667).
Article by Ron Rubin M.D. Dr. Rubin is the father of two young daughters, ages 2 1/2 and 4 1/2 years and husband of jewelry designer, Elana Rubin. He has practiced medicine and psychiatry for over 20 years and is Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
