Your body undergoes major physical, hormonal, and emotional changes throughout pregnancy. For many women, feeling overwhelmed and crying is expected as a part of being a new mother. However, there is a huge difference between ‘baby blues’ and clinical conditions. If you’re feeling like you’re not functioning, you have to understand what is postpartum depression and why it is not your fault.
Postpartum depression is a true condition, and its prevalence in the United States has almost doubled over the past decade.
The postpartum period refers to the first 12 months after delivery. Postpartum depression can strike at any time during the first year, not only after birth.
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression starts after giving birth and lasts for the first year after delivery.
It is a clinical mood disorder that can occur at that time and is associated with an enduring state of sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and impaired functioning in daily life.
You must know that postpartum depression is not the same as the baby blues. Baby Blues are experienced by up to 80% of new mothers and tend to occur within the first 2-3 days after childbirth. These include teary eyes, slight mood changes, irritability, and sensitivity to emotions. They clear up on their own in 1 to 2 weeks when hormones settle down. No treatment is required for this.
However, postpartum depression is different in three key ways. It is more intense and can last for weeks or months instead of days.
Postpartum depression can start at any time within the first year after delivery. This does not need to occur right at birth. In some women, symptoms may not appear for several weeks, and may only happen at two months, four months, or even later.
According to a CDC study, almost half of women with depressive symptoms at 9 to 10 months postpartum did not report any depressive symptoms at two to six months postpartum.
Postpartum Depression Symptoms
Many women during this stage do not feel sad at all; rather, they feel numb, angry, or terrified. Postpartum depression symptoms generally fall into a few specific categories:
Emotional Symptoms
In this, you will feel very distant from your baby or feel like a failure as a mother. Some others include:
- Persistent sadness
- Loss of joy
- Overwhelming anxiety
- Irritability and rage
- Feeling trapped
- Hopeless
Physical Symptoms
You feel physically so tired that you cannot get out of bed even when your partner does everything. You may experience these:
- Severe fatigue
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty sleeping when the baby sleeps
- Headaches
- Stomach problems
- Body aches
Behavioral Symptoms
You may feel like wanting to run away, or feel like everyone would be better off without you. Some others include:
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Poor concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Not eating properly
- Not showering
Intrusive thoughts
Some woman my have scary, repetitive thoughts about something bad happening to your baby. These thoughts are highly distressing, but they do not mean you will act on them. They are a symptom of severe anxiety and OCD that often accompanies this condition.
When It Becomes an Emergency
Some postpartum depression symptoms require immediate medical attention. If you or someone you know is suffering from the following, call emergency service numbers or seek treatment at the nearest emergency room:
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
- Hearing voices
- Seeing things that are not there
- Fuzzy thinking
- Disorientation
- Loss of reality
They may be symptoms of postpartum psychosis, a rare but serious psychiatric emergency that usually occurs within the first week or two after childbirth and is a medical emergency.
If you are thinking of killing yourself or harming yourself, please contact someone right away. Call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) or visit the nearest emergency room.
How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last?
One of the most frequently asked questions by women after they reach out for help is how long does postpartum depression last? The answer would depend entirely on whether you receive treatment or not.
The “baby blues” only last for about two weeks after birth. If you continue to experience symptoms after two weeks, it’s a postpartum mood disorder. Without treatment, postpartum depression can persist for several months or even develop into a chronic, long-term depression that affects your health for years.
However, with appropriate treatment and support, up to 80% of individuals with postpartum depression achieve a full recovery. And it’s a significant number.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
There is no single cause of postpartum depression. This is a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors that come together during your postpartum period.
Following are some of its main causes:
- Hormonal changes (massive drop in estrogen and progesterone)
- Thyroid dysfunction, such as postpartum thyroiditis
- Sleep deprivation
- Nutrition deficiency, such as low iron or low Vitamin D
- History of depression or anxiety
- Lack of social support
- Difficult delivery Trauma
- Breastfeeding difficulties
- Marriage conflicts
- Young parent
Postpartum Depression Screening Tool
A significant change in clinical practice in mental health is the use of validated screening tools that enable providers to systematically identify postpartum depression.
Your provider should be using a postpartum depression screening at your postpartum exams.
The most common one is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). It is a brief 10-question survey about anxiety, sleep, and self-harm. It’s a medical instrument that gives your doctor an objective view of what your brain is doing. If your OB/GYN or primary care doctor is not giving you this screening at your six-week checkup, you should ask for it.
A score of 13 or higher means the person is likely to have depression after giving birth and should be thoroughly screened and treated. A score of 10–12 is in a zone that requires follow-up and monitoring. A score of less than 10 indicates that current symptoms are less likely to be a sign of clinical depression, but clinical judgment should always be used.
Another common screening tool in primary care that has been validated and is used extensively for depression and postpartum depression is the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). It consists of nine symptoms for major depressive disorder rated over the last two weeks, and is useful for monitoring and evaluating treatment response over time.
Postpartum Depression Treatment
The evidence for treatment of postpartum depression is strong and consistent. A multi-layered approach is necessary to treat this condition. It’s all about addressing the underlying physical and mental stressors.
1. Rebuild Your Nutrients
Your brain is deprived of certain nutrients after birth. Depressive symptoms are directly caused by low iron, low B12, and low Omega-3 fatty acids.
Your functional medicine provider will perform blood tests to confirm these levels and then will provide supplements at high doses to literally rebuild your brain chemistry.
2. Check Your Thyroid
Postpartum thyroiditis is incredibly common. A birth can cause the thyroid to become depressed or elevated temporarily.
Because the thyroid influences your energy and mood, a postpartum thyroid disorder is often mistaken for depression. Treatment of the thyroid often resolves this depression.
3. Therapy and Medication
Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), has been proven to be very effective in breaking the cycle of intrusive thoughts and guilt.
Some women may need medications to fill the gap as the body heals. There are safe, non-sedating medications (SSRIs, Zuranolone) that can be used even if you are breastfeeding.
Additionally, mother-infant therapy is used that specifically tagets the attachment bond between you and your baby. This can help combat the feelings of guilt, isolation, and attachment struggles that postpartum depression can trigger. It’s good for both your recovery and your baby’s development.
4. Sleep Restoration
The brain cannot heal when it does not sleep. Newborn sleep is irregular, but you need to get sleep.
This may mean you will need to have your partner, family, or postpartum doula help you with night feeds so you can have a solid 4-5 hours of uninterrupted sleep.
For a new mother, sleep restoration is a key medical necessity.
5. Physical activity
Even a brief, gentle activity, such as a 20-minute stroll with the baby in the stroller, leads to measurable results in reducing postpartum depression symptoms. It must be done regularly and preferably outside in the morning sun.
Bottom Line
Being a mom is tough, but you don’t need to feel like you’re drowning all day. You are not crazy; your feelings are normal, and it is very treatable. Postpartum depression is one of the most common complications of childbirth and is highly treatable.
If you are searching postpartum depression help near me, you must find a clinic that can offer more than just a 10-minute medication check.
At Kairos Integrative Care, Lola, one of our functional health providers, will use the right postpartum depression screening tool, order the necessary blood work to find physical deficiencies, and build a treatment plan that fits you and your family.
We see patients in Houston, Sugar Land, Richmond, and nearby areas (77046 & 77478) and accept major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna, and more.
New patients are always welcome, and if visiting the clinic isn’t possible, telemedicine appointments are available across the entire state of Texas.
Book your appointment today and enjoy a healthier holiday season.
