Postpartum Depression

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You’ve just had a new baby and this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life. Everyone expects you to be the glowing new mother who experiences joy at each giggle or coo; but what if that joy doesn’t come so easily? What if you feel scared and overwhelmed by all these new responsibilities? What if instead of feeling adoration toward your baby, you feel resentful and inadequate? Does this make you a horrible mother? A horrible person? Absolutely not; what you may be experiencing is postpartum depression. (Postpartum depression is also known as postnatal depression).

On this page: Postpartum depression What is it? Who does it affect? Postpartum anxiety Could I have postpartum depression? What can I do about it? How you can help yourself Where do I go from here?

What is it?

Postpartum depression is a form of clinical depression that a mother can experience within the first few weeks, months or even up to a year after having a baby. Ten to 16% of women with postpartum depression begin experiencing symptoms during pregnancy. If left untreated, this depression can last for months or even years after the baby is born. The longer a depression goes untreated, the longer the recovery and the higher the risk of suicide. It’s true that it’s normal for many new mothers to feel a bit down after childbirth, but if these “baby blues” last more than two weeks and affect your ability to take care of yourself and your baby, you may have postpartum depression.

Who does it affect?

Postpartum depression is more common than you may think, affecting 12-16% of mothers: that’s about one in every seven mothers. In teenage mothers, the numbers can be as high as 25%. And it isn’t only first-time mothers who experience this depression; it can also affect mothers who have already had children as well as adoptive mothers.
Some studies have shown that fathers/partners can also experience postpartum depression.

While postpartum depression can affect anyone, there are some factors that may put you at higher risk:

• History of major depression

• Family history of major depression or mental illness

• Hormonal changes

• Sleep deprivation

• Recent stressful life events, e.g. death of a parent or moving

• Your need to feel in control at all times

• Expectations of yourself or your partner’s expectation of you

• Lack of support from family or friends

• Isolation

• Medical complications for you or your baby

Other stresses may increase these risks such as:

• Emotional stress: After giving birth, women may feel overwhelmed with responsibility, less attractive physically and sexually, anxious from changes in routine or lifestyle, and guilty because of social pressures to be a “perfect” mother

• Physical stress: In addition to hormonal changes, common physical changes after labour include weight changes, exhaustion and soreness

Stressors such as tension in a marriage, loss of a job or a lack of support system can also play a role. Even though adoptive mothers, partners and fathers can experience postpartum depression, hormonal changes during pregnancy and after birth are thought to contribute to postpartum depression in some women.

Postpartum anxiety While anxiety is often considered a symptom of postpartum depression, anxiety disorders that develop during or after pregnancy are actually a different set of illnesses altogether. Women often have both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression at the same time. Recent research suggests that pregnancy and the early days after giving birth may be a time in a woman’s life when she is more vulnerable to developing an anxiety disorder. See the Self Help Guide listed in the ‘Where do I go from here’ section of this sheet for more information on postpartum anxiety. Source: Adapted from BC Women’s Self Care Guide

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Could I have postpartum depression?

• I feel extremely sad and depressed

• I’m having crying spells for no apparent reason

• I’m having guilty thoughts or feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness

• I’m having thoughts of ending my life or other frightening thoughts

• I’m feeling inadequate and I’m resenting my baby and other family members

• I’ve noticed changes in my sleep or appetite

• I feel restlessness, out of control, or have no energy

• I’m having difficulty concentrating

• I find myself withdrawing from family, friends and social situations

Some women may have more physical symptoms such as:

• Feeling weak, feeling flushed

• Gas, constipation or diarrhea

• Headaches or heaviness in the head

It isn’t uncommon for women experiencing postpartum depression to have scary thoughts about harming their babies even though it’s the last thing they’d want to do. While we have all heard stories of women harming their newborns, it actually happens very rarely. In these rare cases, those women who harm their babies actually lose touch with reality. This break from reality is called psychosis. Postpartum psychosis (psychosis in the weeks and months after childbirth) affects only one out of 1000 new mothers. Even mothers experiencing postpartum psychosis very rarely harm their children.

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What can I do about it?

While postpartum depression may seem like a never-ending struggle, there are things you can do to help:

• Counseling: Group therapy, individual therapy and/or marriage or family counseling with a qualified therapist can help you get back on track and help you realize that you aren’t alone and this isn’t your fault.

• Many women find they benefit from a type of counseling called cognitive-behavioural therapy. In this kind of therapy you work with your counselor to change the thoughts, feelings and behaviours that are harming your mental health.

• There is also a type of counseling called interpersonal therapy that deals with the way you interact with others and identifies any problems in your relationships that may be contributing to your depression.

• Medication: Some women find antidepressants or other appropriate medications may help, especially if their depression is moderate to severe. Always be sure to talk to your doctor to discuss the risks and benefits of taking medications while pregnant or breast feeding.

• Light therapy: Some mothers with postpartum depression have experienced improvement in their symptoms after exposure to special kinds of bright, artificial light for only 30 minutes per day.

• Self-help: In addition to professional help, there are things you can do at home to help prevent or lessen the symptoms of postpartum depression. See “How you can help yourself” in the box on the right for some tips.

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How You Can Help Yourself

• Get as close to 8 hours of sleep a day as you can

• Maintain a well-balanced diet

• Try your best to find time to exercise

• Practice relaxation, even if it’s a few minutes with your feet up or a quick breath of fresh air

• Be gentle with yourself and your feelings

• Find support from family and other loved ones

• Have time for yourself away from the baby

• Educate yourself!

How Dads and Other Supporters Can Help

• Encourage her to talk to you about how she feels

• Help remind her that it’s not her fault and she’s not a bad mother

• Remind her how much you care

• Share in home and child care responsibilities

• Accept help from friends and family

• If she’s not ready for sex again yet, be physically affectionate and maintain intimacy in other ways

• Take care of yourself. Find time out for yourself (other than at work), find someone to talk to, continue to follow some of your own interests, and be aware of your own needs.

Source: Pacific Post Partum Support Society

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Where do I go from here?

If you feel like you or someone you care about is experiencing postpartum depression talk to your doctor immediately. They can help you decide which of the above treatments, if any, is right for you. In addition to talking to your family doctor, check out the resources below for more information on postpartum depression.

Other helpful resources are:
Reproductive Mental Health Program at BC Women’s Hospital
Call BC Women’s Hospital at 1-888-300-3088 ext. 2025 (toll-free in BC) or call 604-875-2025 (in Greater Vancouver) to find out how to see a specialist in postpartum depression or anxiety. You can also visit www.bcwomens.ca. You must have a referral to the Reproductive Mental Health Program from your doctor. To get referral forms, doctors may call the numbers above. In addition to issues related to pregnancy, this program can also be helpful for other times in a woman’s reproductive cycle  where mental health problems can happen such as the pre-menstrual period, menopause, after a miscarriage, or while experiencing infertility.

Coping with depression during pregnancy and after the birth
Visit www.bcmhas.ca for a self-care guide.

Pacific Post Partum Support Society
Visit www.postpartum.org for resources and information on postpartum support groups or call 604-255-7999.

Mood Disorders Association of BC
Visit www.mdabc.net or call 604-873-0103 for resources and information on depression support groups.

HealthLink BC
Call 811 or visit www.healthlinkbc.ca to access free, non-emergency health information for anyone in your family, including mental health information. Through 811, you can also speak to a registered nurse about symptoms you’re worried about, or a pharmacist about medication questions.