Postpartum Depression

Depression that occurs after childbirth.

Those who develop postpartum depression are at greater risk of developing major depression later on in life.

Symptoms might include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby.

Untreated, the condition may last months or longer. Treatment can include counseling, antidepressants, or hormone therapy.

Cluster Number:
Wiki Number: PW171
Diagnosis: Postpartum Depression
US Patients: 15% of new mothers; 1-26% of new fathers; postpartum psychosis-.1-.2 of 1% leading to 8 per 100,000 new baby murders In the US
World Patients: 17.7% world-wide; In US, African-American women have 25%; Asian-11.5%; other mothers in-between %s.
Sex Ratio: 80% of new mothers have milder “baby blues” which resolve in two weeks.
Age Onset: 1 week to 1 month after childbirth lasting more than two weeks; may also occur after miscarriage
Brain Area: Less activity in left frontal lobe; more in right frontal lobe, decreased connectivity for emotional-regulation; more amygdala arousal
Symptoms: extreme sadness and fatigue; can also affect the child, difficulty bonding, suicidal thoughts, worry about harming self or baby
Progression: 1/3 of women experience violence from men which increases postpartum depression
Causes: horomonal changes, sleep deprivation; synthetic oxycontin to induce birth; smoking, poverty, lack of emotional support
Medications: antidepressants, unless breast-feeding; SSRIs
Therapies: CBT and Interpersonal Therapy; light aerobic exercise may help in mild or moderate cases.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL WIKIPEDIA ARTICLE

Youtube Video: Parenting through Postpartum Depression

Amazon or Library Book:

This Isn’t What I Expected – Overcoming Postpartum Depression

Click the book to link or order from Amazon.

Support Group: psidirectory.com; 593-894-9453

(Postpartum Support International)

4 CURRENT ARTICLES
FROM PUBMED

The world-wide medical research
reports chosen for each diagnosis

Clicking each title opens the
PubMed article’s summary-abstract.

From Pregnancy to Postpartum: The Dynamic Reorganization of the Maternal Brain
by Natalia Chechko on January 22, 2025
The postpartum period is marked by radical changes in the maternal brain. Seeking to explore the mechanisms that underlie these changes, this article focuses on the relevant hormonal, inflammatory, and behavioral factors. Longitudinal imaging studies have shed valuable light on both short- and long-term alterations in postpartum brain structure and connectivity, particularly in the regions that play key roles in emotion regulation and stress response. It is plausible that these peripartum...
Validity and Reliability of the Turkish Version of the Maternal Ambivalence Scale
by Nülüfer Erbil on January 21, 2025
CONCLUSION: It was determined that Turkish MAS is valid and reliable measurement tool.
Non-pharmacological Radical Methods for Treating Postpartum Depression Around the Globe: A Narrative Review
by Sushmitha G on January 21, 2025
Mental health conditions during pregnancy, especially postpartum depression (PPD), can have profound and long-lasting effects on the individual, impeding her ability to bond with her child and disrupting the family dynamics. Although pharmacological treatments like antidepressants are the mainstay treatment options, several mothers have concerns about their safety and potential side effects, especially breastfeeding mothers. There is an emerging interest in exploring the use of...
Managing pre and postpartum mental health issues of refugee women from fragile and conflict-affected countries: A systematic review
by Saraban Tahura Ether on January 21, 2025
CONCLUSION: The absence of limited experimental studies opens the opportunity for conducting further research on this topic. Besides, development partners can focus on this review to prioritise the intervention components during designing programmes on this related issue.