Postpartum Depression

Postpartum conditions are presented in three levels. Postpartum blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Postpartum blues do not generally affect a woman's ability to care for herself or her baby. Postpartum depression interferes with a woman's ability to care for both herself and her baby. Postpartum psychosis is the most serious postpartum disorder. Lack of Interest in the Baby Women suffering from PPD find that they lack both energy and interest in their newborn infant. Many women do not like to admit this side effect, even to them, for fear it makes them bad mothers. But lack of interest in the baby is a very common symptom of PPD, and completely normal. Many mothers experience the exact same thing. Inability to Rest No matter how tired, mothers suffering from postpartum depression have an increasing inability to rest or sleep. They cannot stay still, cannot seem to turn off their minds, cannot find comfort in slumber. This is a common and disturbing side effect of PPD. Postpartum Depression is so much more than what people think depression is. This illness takes on many different forms and each woman has different thoughts and feelings associated with their postpartum illness. When you talk to women out there on their experience with PPD some just feel a sense of not wanting to be around their baby and not take care of the child. Other women just note that they could not stop crying. Some felt sad, lonely and had mood swings. Being pregnant is a time of joy at the prospect of bringing a new life into the world, but it also brings a time of uncertainty, let's face it, being a parent is a huge responsibility. If that wasn't enough there is the other side to being a new parent, that being the side that affects a mom on all levels, emotionally, mentally, and of course the more obvious - physically. The body has to make adjustments and hormones go crazy. Don't confuse 'baby blues' with postpartum depression. Baby blues typically last from a few days to a week right after childbirth. This is very common and does not need treatment. An easy way to cope with it is to ask for help and support from friends and family. It also helps to talk to other new moms who are experiencing the same feelings. Postpartum depression on the other hand, can occur anytime in the first year of your baby's life. If you have any of these symptoms, you may be suffering from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is an illness that requires immediate attention because it could lead to postpartum psychosis which is an extreme case of depression. Mothers with this problem will experience postpartum depression signs like confusion, disorientation, hallucinations and delusions and paranoia. They lose their ability to think wisely and to handle situations that sometimes they feel a strong urge to harm themselves and their baby. Once postpartum depression shifts to postpartum psychosis, there's now the need to seek assistance from medical experts or psychologist doctors for they could give the right therapy and prescribe the right medicines to cure this special type of mood disorder.