Postpartum Depression – An Overview
The postpartum depression is known in medical terms as the peripartum depression, and as per the definition, it
refers to the unexplained depression bouts that affect a new mother. You would expect that the birth of a baby
would make the mother (and father) ecstatic with joy. Depression has no place here. However, there are many times
when the new mother is totally overwhelmed by a devastating depression. This affliction is identified as
postpartum depression.
Why Does Postpartum Depression Occur?
The body of the woman during the pregnancy is packed with hormones which help in preparing her body for the
baby’s development and survival. The moment the baby is born and the placenta is expelled, the hormones will stop.
The sudden withdrawal is absorbed by some women, while the rest fall prey to the postpartum depression.
Medical research studies point at the thyroid gland as one of the main players in this development.
Thankfully, the affliction can be totally reversed simply by including medication to balance the thyroid
dysfunction. This is easily reversed and totally curable. Hence, if the postpartum depression is caused by a
thyroid problem, this can be addressed immediately with total success.
There are other causes that can be triggers for postpartum depression. For example, the load of work that comes
up once the new baby is brought home is sometimes a little intimidating (and overwhelming). The work keeps the
mother on her toes all the time and the constant pressure and have-to-do-it-feeling may create the right ambiance
for the postpartum depression to set in.
Other reasons that can trigger postpartum depression is lack of sleep. Some babies have a cut-off time at night,
say 11:30 or 12:00 night. Some wake up round the clock every two hours. The lack of sleep would affect the new
mother too much and that could again instigate an attack of postpartum depression. Thankfully, no
‘have-beens’ are here.
Some of the scariest things that can happen is the loss of hair in women. Some research studies have pointed in
this direction (i.e. that hair loss is the biggest trigger for depression).
Here, the best medication is a slow hormone-replacement-therapy (HRT) which will bring back the balance without
affects the child’s well being. It was observed that once the hormone balance is achieved, all the depression
symptoms disappear altogether. If you find yourself (or anyone of your known people) suffering from
postpartum depression, then seek immediate medical attention. Depression is a disease as any other; do not hesitate
to take her to a doctor for an early treatment.
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