Postnatal depression is a rather serious form of depression that many of us experience immediately after having a child. It is not the same as your first baby blues: it takes special treatment so that you can fully recover from it. While we all have experienced a bit of depression after losing a loved one or something close, for women it is particularly traumatic.
The term "postnatal depression" can be used in two different ways. It can be used when you experience the symptoms after the birth of your baby, and it can be used when you are suffering from it long after the baby is born. Most people who experience postnatal depression talk about feeling sad and lonely during this time, and they might mention feeling restless and needing to sleep. However, other women talk about being depressed or "down in the dumps". These women might describe hallucinations and thoughts of hurting themselves and/or their baby, or suicidal thoughts.
Only ten mothers develop postnatal depression during pregnancy, but the condition is serious. Many of these women don t just feel sad, lonely and confused; they think terrible thoughts and make terrible decisions. Some women even turn to self-medication - either by alcohol or dangerous medications. Unfortunately, only ten mothers develop postnatal depression as a result of their own mental health visits.
In most cases, women develop postnatal depression because of their health visits. This means that the postnatal depression has started very early on, probably during the first week of the pregnancy. Most doctors are perfectly aware that many postnatal depression symptoms are similar to those of the baby blues, so they treat these symptoms with care. If you experience nausea, dizziness, fatigue, trouble falling or staying asleep or having trouble concentrating and are concerned about your baby's health, make an appointment with your obstetrician or gynecologist immediately - if the symptoms do not improve within 48 hours, make an appointment with a health visitor immediately.
A health visitor will be able to record a detailed medical history of your pregnancy and look at your body and face for any visible signs of postnatal depression symptoms. If you have any of these symptoms, the health visitor will need to record these as soon as possible in order to help you find treatment. You will probably be advised to take some kind of medication to the health visitor has record your symptoms. This medication may be an anti-depressant or you could be advised to use some kind of drug to calm your nerves, such as paracetamol. You will not know which drugs you will be prescribed until you see your doctor, so it is important that you ask what options are available to you.
Other signs of postnatal depression include feeling anxious and/or having trouble sleeping, trouble concentrating and not being able to enjoy your time with your baby or wife. You may also worry about the health of your unborn baby and worry about its development. Having low mood and worrying about the health of your baby is a major sign that you have postnatal depression. If these problems do not get treated, they can lead to complications during your pregnancy, such as miscarriage.
It is very important for women who have postnatal depression to talk openly with their obstetrician or gynecologist about their feelings, fears and worries. The obstetrician or gynecologist will be the best person to understand what you are going through and to offer support. This is especially true if there is another child in the family, because the stress of giving birth can affect everyone in the family. The chances of postnatal depression to affect the fetus are great, and if this happens the mother could become severely depressed. If you have any of the above mentioned symptoms, you should immediately speak to your doctor about it.
Dealing with depression after giving birth can be a difficult and daunting task. You may not know how to handle the situation and get better. Don't worry - all is not lost. There are some great treatment options available for postnatal depression. Speak to your doctor about them today!
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