Filed under: New Born — Alan @ 10:38 am
One of the most life changing and happiest times of a woman’s life and definitely a life changing time is entering motherhood, even though it can also be challenging and quite stressful to say the least.
While many mums will feel anxious about the uncertainties and challenges that lie in front of them, constant worry or times of anxiety can have their detrimental effects and could greatly hurt the relationship between mum and her new baby.
Postpartum depression or severe baby blues (PPD) according to studies affects over 13% of mothers. This is caused by a large decrease in the amount of progesterone, estrogen and thyroid hormones that follow a child’s birth. Recognizing what the symptoms are and learning to understand the steps to overcome the depression can allow you to start to make that close-knit relationship with your newborn.
Those that suffer PPD often feel a loss of a connection or bond with their new baby. Have the thoughts ever occurred to you to hurt your baby or yourself? Are there suicidal thoughts and the feeling of increased loneliness and isolation? If the answer was yes to the questions you could be suffering from postpartum depression.
Some of the symptoms of the possible onset of postpartum depression include difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, recurrent sadness, lost of interest in life, hopelessness, fatigue, guilt and frustration. These may develop at times into something even more serious with sufferers often finding themselves paranoid or frantic over even little things.
Always remember first and foremost that you are not alone. If you realize this suffering of severe baby blues you can start getting better by taking the necessary steps to combat the condition. Leaving it untreated with the hope it will just go away or get better will not help and will get worse before it gets better.
Your family, friends and spouse are always worried about your well being, do not be ashamed to seek support or confide in your loved ones, most of all the baby’s father. Tell him the problems you feel and let him play the major role in helping to combat and beat your depression.
To help cope there are a number of support groups, resources and services at your disposal. Look for a group that meets and its members are postpartum depression sufferers that way you will be with people that know what you are going through and can offer their help, opinions and ideas. At times it may feel difficult to share your thoughts with people that are strangers, but remember they have suffered or are suffering just what you are. Use the help of a group that has the same common goal in order to help get you through the emotional roller coaster of postpartum depression.
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 1:51 pm
A new study may lead to a cure for the baby blues, also known as postpartum depression. This affliction is suffered to some degree by up to 70% of women who have just given birth, and though it is well known and documented, the reasons for it has never been clear.
While childbirth is for most women a joyful experience, it is common knowledge that in the days immediately following, a large majority of them get the blues. The symptoms may include irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, loss of appetite and terrible sadness with no ‘logical’ cause.
Most women just get over it and forget it, but in about 13% of cases, the blues get worse until they become a full-blown depression and a major health risk. Researchers in the current study, led by Julia Sacher of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, found a definite correlation between female depression at this stage and the enzyme called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A).
It has been long known that women’s oestrogen levels drop drastically in the first few days after childbirth, but now it has been discovered that levels of the MAO-A enzyme in the brain increase proportionately in the same time period.
The enzyme breaks down neuro-transmitters in the brain that not only transmit signals but are also mood influencers. If the transmitter’s serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are lacking or deficient, the result is a sad mood, which can lead to severe depression.
Researchers are pursuing the possibility of dietary supplements such as amino acids that would help maintain the level of monoamines prior to and during the initial postpartum stage and prevent the onset of depression.
Filed under: Baby health — Alan @ 1:51 pm
A new study may lead to a cure for the baby blues, also known as postpartum depression. This affliction is suffered to some degree by up to 70% of women who have just given birth, and though it is well known and documented, the reasons for it has never been clear.
While childbirth is for most women a joyful experience, it is common knowledge that in the days immediately following, a large majority of them get the blues. The symptoms may include irritability, sleeplessness, anxiety, loss of appetite and terrible sadness with no ‘logical’ cause.
Most women just get over it and forget it, but in about 13% of cases, the blues get worse until they become a full-blown depression and a major health risk. Researchers in the current study, led by Julia Sacher of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig, found a definite correlation between female depression at this stage and the enzyme called monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A).
It has been long known that women’s oestrogen levels drop drastically in the first few days after childbirth, but now it has been discovered that levels of the MAO-A enzyme in the brain increase proportionately in the same time period.
The enzyme breaks down neuro-transmitters in the brain that not only transmit signals but are also mood influencers. If the transmitter’s serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine are lacking or deficient, the result is a sad mood, which can lead to severe depression.
Researchers are pursuing the possibility of dietary supplements such as amino acids that would help maintain the level of monoamines prior to and during the initial postpartum stage and prevent the onset of depression.
One of the most life changing and happiest times of a woman’s life and definitely a life changing time is entering motherhood, even though it can also be challenging and quite stressful to say the least.