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Pregnancy and Emotions
When the ‘Baby Blues’ Are Serious
"I expected to be overjoyed, bringing my healthy twin daughters home from the hospital,” says Melissa Cope, 39, of Allentown. “Instead I was overwhelmed. It seemed I was breastfeeding ’round the clock—the girls awoke and cried at different times, so I almost never slept. By the end of two weeks, I was crying more than the babies and couldn’t even take care of them.”
How the Hospital Can HelpLehigh Valley Hospital has a new strategy to spot postpartum depression as early as possible. It starts with education: you’ll learn about the signs and symptoms in your childbirth preparation class, and again with a postpartum nurse after your delivery.
Then there’s the Healthy Steps program for first-time parents, available through ABC Family Pediatricians. Healthy Steps specialist Cathy Rutman, R.N., talks with mothers about the changes in their lives and how they’re adjusting emotionally. “If someone is feeling depressed, I work with her to find the help she needs,” Rutman says.
Finally, there’s a therapist-led support group for women with postpartum depression. “Connecting with others going through the same experience helps women feel less guilty and more hopeful about getting well,” psychiatrist Susan Wiley, M.D., says.
Bringing home a new baby is a joyous event, but it’s not always easy. “Nearly every new mother has emo-tional swings,” says Susan Wiley, M.D., psychiatrist at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. In most cases, things settle back to normal in a few days.
But for the 10 to 15 percent of new mothers who develop postpartum depression, the situation just gets worse. Unrelenting worry, sleeplessness and guilt can spiral into depression.
“We don’t really know what causes the condition,” Wiley says. “It happens in all socioeconomic and ethnic groups, and may be related to fluctuating hormones.” You’re at higher risk if you had a complicated delivery, if you have mood instability with your menstrual cycles, or if you have a history of postpartum depression.
The key is to get treatment early. “Postpartum depression is very treatable with antidepressants and counseling,” says Mark Wendling, M.D., family physician at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. Many antidepressant drugs are safe even for breast-feeding mothers, and can make a big difference in your outlook. “Several days after I started an antidepressant, I began to feel better,” Cope says.
Counseling over several months helps the new mother identify the greatest sources of stress in her life and develop coping strategies. “Women with postpartum depression often have unrealistic expectations of themselves and their babies,” Wiley says. “You have to ask yourself what you and your baby really need, and what is just your fantasy of perfect motherhood.”
Often the father, too, comes to a few counseling sessions—as Melissa Cope’s husband, Dave, did. “It helped him understand what was happening,” she says.
One of the couple’s key lessons: you can’t do this alone. Initially Dave tried to keep
visitors to a minimum, thinking Melissa would get more rest that way. Their counselor advised accepting help. Family and friends brought meals, did the laundry and vacuuming, and cared for the babies so Melissa could sleep.
“I finally was comfortable leaving the girls with my family and going out to run errands by myself,” she says. “Before, I couldn’t imagine leaving the house.” Eventually, the couple was able to call a sitter and go out on a date.
Clearly, postpartum depression affects the whole family. “The father is confused, and older children are hurt by their mother’s withdrawal,” Wiley says. Depression may interfere with the mother’s ability to bond, which can have long-term effects on the child’s social development.
Fortunately, early treatment can prevent many of these ill effects. “If you’re feeling stressed, tell your obstetrician, pediatrician or family doctor about it right away,” Wendling says. Melissa Cope urges family members or close friends to step in when the mother herself is too depressed to make the call. “That’s what my sister did for me,” she says.
Signs of Postpartum Depression
- Feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, anxious or out of control
- Trouble with basic grooming, like showering or getting dressed
- Trouble caring for the baby (changing, feeding, cuddling)
- Loss of appetite or rapid weight loss
- Inability to sleep or relax, even when the baby is sleeping
- Loss of pleasure or interest in activities, even in the baby
- Problems with concentration and motivation
- Feeling guilty, sad, or that things just aren’t right
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This page last updated 2/12/08 04:08 PM
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