sample essays on postpartum depression

Essay on Postpartum Depression

Mothers have many experiences in the weeks and months after having a baby. These experiences are characterized by uncertainties and mixed reactions that come with childbearing. Among these experiences, one of them is depression. Postpartum depression is a common complication of childbirth that affects ten to fifteen percent of women worldwide (Warner et al ., 1996).

Postpartum depression is described as an episode or group of non-psychotic depressive symptoms during the first twelve months of birth. Signs and symptoms include insomnia (inability to sleep), hypersomnia (sleeping a lot even when baby is awake), the extreme concern of baby, fatigue, irritability, sadness or excessive crying, diminished interest in all or most activities, and recurrent thoughts of death which may include thinking about or planning suicide (Patel et al ., 2012). Postpartum depression must also be distinguished from postpartum blues, also known as “Baby blues.” Baby blues have similar symptoms to PPD but usually occur in three to five days and resolve in ten days. Suicide ideation is not present in postpartum blues (Buttner et al ., 2012).

Every woman of childbearing age is at risk of developing PPD. The risk factors are categorized into two; biological and social risk factors.

Biological Factors

These are associated with hormonal changes and genetic factors. Women who have had a family history of depression and mental disorder are at high risk of developing PPD than women who do not have (Buttner, 2012). Women who have suffered bipolar are twenty-five to thirty percent at risk of developing depression. PPD may also be contributed by thyroid hormones produced by thyroid glands found at the base of the neck. Dysfunction of the hormones is a huge risk of PPD(Buttner,2012).

Social Factors

Women experiencing life stressors are at a high risk of developing postpartum depression. Lack of social support, increased financial burden, marital discord, single marital status, and child care stress can be associated with postpartum depression.

Effects of Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression negatively affects women and their children. It involves the relationship between mother and child, their well-being, and their behavioral, cognitive, motor, and physical development. Infants with depressed mothers show poor physical development than those from healthy mothers. Their heights are significantly lower than those of healthy mothers. These symptoms are likely to disappear after twelve months or when the depression is treated (Beck, 1998).

The mother-infant relationship is severely affected by postnatal depression.PPD mothers respond less to their children’s reactions and behaviors. A healthy mother will be touched and moved by a baby’s crying, responding by giving more active caregiving behaviors and smiling at them. In contrast, a PPD mother shows low or no interest in the child. This brings negative interaction between mother and child (Laurent and Ablow, 2013).

Future adverse outcomes on the child may be seen. Postpartum depression may affect the child’s emotional, behavioral, and cognitive development. The child is likely to be less interactive, have temper issues, be less sociable, and have less concentration and low self-esteem (Patel, 2012).

Remedies for postpartum depression

Postpartum depression should not be ignored; it should be attended to PPD mothers should be given treatment and also other interventions observed. Anti-depressants are found to be efficient in reducing depressive symptoms in a person. The reduction of the symptoms may, in turn, improve maternal care shown to the child (O’Hara and Mccabe,2013).

Therapies are also important in alleviating postpartum depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on mother-infant relationships, brief dynamic therapy that better understands internal conflicts, and interpersonal therapy that solves interpersonal disputes and grief (Kornaros,2020).

Postpartum depression is a condition that affects mother and child yet has not been taken seriously over the years. Many women ignore the symptoms, yet they bring adverse effects to their children. The depressive symptoms hinder the child’s healthy development, which in turn affects the child’s future. Measures should therefore be put in place to help and improve the conditions of new mothers. Education can also be a good approach to preventing postpartum depression by conducting screening and internet awareness. Social workers also need to engage in methods of finding solutions for postpartum depression.

Beck,C.T. (1998).The Effects of postpartum depression on child development: A met-anlysis.Archives of Psychriatric Nursing ;Vol.12,No.1,pp. 12-20

Buttner, M.M., O’Hara M.W., Watson, D. (2012) The structure of women’s mood in early postpartum .Assesment;Vol.19,No.2,pp. 247-256

Kimmel,M.,Hess, E.,Roy P.S,(2015) Family History,not lack of medication use,is associated with the development of postpartum depression in high-risk sample. Archives of women’s mental health ,Vol. 18,No.1,pp.113-121.

Kornaros,K.(2020) Treating postpartum emotional distress by a short-term psychodynamic infant-parent intervention integrated with Child Health Center Care. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health .

Laurent,H.K.,Ablow,J.C., (2013) A face a mother could love:Depression-related maternal neural responses to infant emotion faces. Social Neuroscience ,Vol 8, No.3, pp.228-339.

O’Hara M.W,Mccabe J.E.(2013) Postpartum depression:Current status and future directions. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology ,Vol. 9,No. 1, pp. 379-407.

Patel,M.,Bailey,R.K.,Jabeen,S.,Ali,S.,Barker,N.C.and Osiezagha,K(2012).Postpartum depression:a review. Journal of health care for the poor and undeserved ,Vol. 23,No 2, pp. 534-542.

Postpartum depression – Symptoms and causes . Mayo Clinic. (2022). Retrieved 1 February 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617.

Warner,R.,Appleby,L.,Whitton,A.,(1996) International review of Psychiatry ,Vol.8,No.1,pp.73-78.

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Postpartum depression: Causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options

Women and Girls

What is postpartum depression and anxiety?

It’s common for women to experience the “baby blues”—feeling stressed, sad, anxious, lonely, tired or weepy—following their baby’s birth. But some women, up to 1 in 7, experience a much more serious mood disorder—postpartum depression (PPD). (Postpartum psychosis, a condition that may involve psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations, is a different disorder and is very rare.) Unlike the baby blues, PPD doesn’t go away on its own. It can appear days or even months after delivering a baby; it can last for many weeks or months if left untreated. PPD can make it hard for you to get through the day, and it can affect your ability to take care of your baby, or yourself. PPD can affect any woman—those with easy pregnancies or problem pregnancies, first-time mothers and mothers with one or more children, women who are married and women who are not, and regardless of income, age, race or ethnicity, culture, or education.

What are the symptoms of PPD?

The warning signs are different for everyone but may include:

A loss of pleasure or interest in things you used to enjoy, including sex

Eating much more, or much less, than you usually do

Anxiety—all or most of the time—or panic attacks

Racing, scary thoughts

Feeling guilty or worthless; blaming yourself

Excessive irritability, anger, or agitation; mood swings

Sadness, crying uncontrollably for very long periods of time

Fear of not being a good mother

Fear of being left alone with the baby

Inability to sleep, sleeping too much, difficulty falling or staying asleep

Disinterest in the baby, family, and friends

Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions

Thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby (see below for numbers to call to get immediate help).

If these warning signs or symptoms last longer than 2 weeks, you may need to get help. Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, recovery is possible with proper treatment.

What are the risk factors for PPD?

A change in hormone levels after childbirth

Previous experience of depression or anxiety

Family history of depression or mental illness

Stress involved in caring for a newborn and managing new life changes

Having a challenging baby who cries more than usual, is hard to comfort, or whose sleep and hunger needs are irregular and hard to predict

Having a baby with special needs (premature birth, medical complications, illness)

First-time motherhood, very young motherhood, or older motherhood

Other emotional stressors, such as the death of a loved one or family problems

Financial or employment problems

Isolation and lack of social support

What can I do?

Don’t face PPD alone. To find a psychologist or other licensed mental health provider near you, ask your OB/GYN, pediatrician, midwife, internist, or other primary health care provider for a referral. APA can also help you find a local psychologist: Call 1-800-964-2000, or visit the APA Psychologist Locator .

Talk openly about your feelings with your partner, other mothers, friends, and relatives.

Join a support group for mothers—ask your health care provider for suggestions if you can’t find one.

Find a relative or close friend who can help you take care of the baby.

Get as much sleep or rest as you can even if you have to ask for more help with the baby—if you can’t rest even when you want to, tell your primary health care provider.

As soon as your doctor or other primary health care provider says it’s okay, take walks, or participate in another form of exercise.

Try not to worry about unimportant tasks. Be realistic about what you can do while taking care of a new baby.

Cut down on less important responsibilities.

Remember that postpartum depression is not your fault—it is a real, but treatable, psychological disorder. If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, take action now: Put the baby in a safe place, like a crib. Call a friend or family member for help if you need to. Then, call a suicide hotline (free and staffed all day, every day):

IMAlive 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Dial 988 (Formerly known as The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK)

Other versions

Download this Brochure (PDF, 476KB)

En Español (PDF, 419KB)

En Français (PDF, 240KB)

中文 (PDF, 513KB)

All translations of the English Postpartum Depression brochure were partially funded by a grant from the American Psychological Foundation.

Crisis hotlines and resources

Postpartum Health Alliance

Postpartum Support International

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Health Resources and Services Administration

National Women’s Health Center

Psychology topics: Women and girls
Psychology topics: Depression

Postpartum Depression Essay Examples

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