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Postpartum Depression: Mothers
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"Through the Maternity Depression Program, Blue Cross provides new mothers, their family members and physicians with information and tools to identify mothers at risk for Postpartum Depression. The physician can then evaluate the mother to better understand her concerns and behavioral changes or if there are signs of significant depression," said Cheryl Noncarrow, president of Behavioral Health for Blue Cross of California. "Screening to identify issues and referring into treatment is a start in helping to restore normalcy for new moms."
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If postpartum depression is left untreated, there may be several adverse outcomes. Partners can develop depression. Postpartum depression may impact the new mother's ability to bond with her infant, and may ... impact future child development. It can be associated with behavioral problems in children. These children may also relapse into major depression later on in their lives.
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The exact cause of postpartum depression is not known. One factor may be the changes in hormone levels that occur during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth. Also, when the experience of having a child does not match the mother's expectations, the resultant stress can trigger depression. Studies have ... considered the possible effects of maternal age, expectations of motherhood, birthing practices and the level of social support for the new mother.
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Recently in the news, according to the Archives of Diseases in Childhood, May 2006, is the research study results out of Turkey that suggest that postpartum depression may be linked to colic. This is just a suggestion.... The lead author of the study that colic is extremely common among infants and that there is still only a small amount of information toward deciding whether or not it is linked to postpartum depression in the mother.
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If you are pregnant, you may be able to decrease your risk of postpartum depression by preparing yourself before the birth for the changes in lifestyle that motherhood will bring. Talk to other mothers and to your doctor in very practical, day-to-day terms about what it's like to care for an infant. Don't underestimate how much time you'll need with your newborn. Clear out as much time as you can during the period after birth. Also, don't hesitate to ask for help from your partner and others who care about you.
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Why does postpartum depression happen? The trigger for postpartum depression appears to be when a sudden, dramatic drop in hormone levels occurs in [S]usceptible women. But “susceptible” does not mean she brought this on herself. Susceptible women often have a personal or family history of depression. The same hormone drop that occurs in all mothers after delivery only happens to trigger a chemical imbalance in the brains of susceptible women.
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