The birth of a baby is not a simple process. It can produce a mixture of powerful emotions, from excitement and joy to fear and anxiety. But it can also produce something you would possibly not expect — depression. During and after pregnancy your body and mind undergo many changes. If you feel empty or sad for most of the time or greater than 2 weeks after pregnancy, you may have postpartum depression. If you feel that you don’t love or have affection for your baby, it is the symbol of postpartum depression.


Postpartum Depression:

“Postpartum” describes the time after childbirth. Many women can get the “baby blues” right after some days of giving baby birth. For several women, the baby blues getaway in three to five days. It is not a flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of the birth process. It is vital to seek help as soon as possible if you think that you are experiencing depression, as your symptoms could last months or worsen and have a big impact on you and your baby.


Types:

Postpartum depression is a serious mental disease that involves your brain and affects your behavior and physical health. There are three types of depression used to describe the mood changes women can have after childbirth.


Baby blue:

The "baby blues," which occur in many moms within the day right after childbirth, are common. You’ll have sudden mood swings, like feeling very happy then feeling very sad. You cry out for no reason and may feel impatient, restless, anxious, lonely, and gloomy. It may last only a couple of hours or as long as 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. Usually, you don’t need treatment from a doctor for baby blues. By joining a support group for new moms or talking with other moms can help you in this matter.


Postpartum depression:

It can happen a couple of days or maybe months after childbirth. Postpartum depression (PPD) can happen after the birth of any child, not just the primary child. You may experience, almost like the baby blues, sadness, anxiety, and irritability. But in this case, you will feel them far more strongly. PPD often keeps you from doing the regular things you would like to try every day. When your ability to function is affected, you should contact your health care provider, like your ob-gyn or medical care doctor as soon as possible. The doctor can examine you for depression symptoms and create a treatment plan. While PPD may be a serious condition, you can treat it with the help of medication and counseling.


Postpartum psychosis:

It is a really serious mental disease that can affect new mothers. This illness can happen quickly, often within the primary 3 months after childbirth. In this illness, women can lose touch with reality. For example, with postpartum psychosis, a new mother may experience auditory hallucinations. She will also start to hear things that are not actually happening, such as a person talking. Postpartum psychosis can also include delusions (strongly believing things that are irrational) and visual hallucinations ( seeing things that are not there). Other symptoms may include insomnia (difficulty to get sleep), feeling agitated and angry, pacing, restlessness, and strange behaviors. Women who have postpartum psychosis need treatment directly as soon as possible and always need medication. Sometimes women are admitted into the hospital because they're in danger of hurting themselves or somebody else.


Causes:

Hormonal changes may initiate symptoms of postpartum depression. Once you are pregnant, levels of the feminine hormones estrogen and progesterone are very high in the body. After childbirth, hormone levels quickly go to normal, pre- pregnancy levels. Many researchers believe this sudden change in hormone levels may cause depression. This is often the same as hormone changes before a woman’s period but involves far more extreme swings in hormone levels. Levels of thyroid hormones can also decrease after childbirth. The thyroid is a small gland within the neck that regulates energy. It will monitor how your body uses and stores energy from food. The deficiency of thyroid hormones can cause symptoms of depression. An easy biopsy can tell whether this condition is causing your symptoms. If so, your doctor will help you in prescribe thyroid medicine.


Treatment:

The two main available treatments are medication and therapy. Even though both options can be used separately, it is ideal to use medication and therapy treatment simultaneously. It’s also essential to develop some healthy choices in your daily routine. It will take a couple of tries to seek out what treatment works for you. It would be beneficial to maintain open communication with your doctor.


Medication:

Many antidepressants have a strong effect on the brain. They indirectly alter the chemicals that regulate mood. It can take many weeks of using the medication before you feel a difference in your mood. Some people may feel side effects while taking antidepressants. These side effects may include fatigue, decreased sex drive, and dizziness. If side effects seem to be making your symptoms worse, contact your doctor directly.


Therapy:

A psychiatrist or another psychological state professional can provide counseling. Therapy will help you to add up constructive thoughts and offer strategies for working through them.


Prevention:

It is really not possible to get absolute prevention. Still, I am going to discuss some factors that can be responsible for causing depression. In order to lower the risk of depression, your doctor can monitor you for symptoms. With the help of counseling, or other therapies you can fight mild depression symptoms. You may need medications, even while you’re pregnant.