Postpartum Depression is Preventable

The birth of your child can cause a roller coaster of emotions. It is a happy occasion that makes you feel excited, but on the other hand, you may find yourself experiencing fear and uncertainty. The sadness some women feel after the birth of their baby is usually short-lived and often referred to as the Baby Blues, which typically last about 6 weeks. However, some moms can experience severe and long-lasting postpartum depression (PPD). This is a mood disorder that commonly impacts women within the first 12 months after giving birth. It is a debilitating disorder that falls in between the two medical specialties, OB/GYN and psychiatry. As a result, PPD often falls between the cracks and remains untreated.

Giving the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale is the usual way to screen for postpartum depression. A nurse will give you this test at your postpartum visit. Sometimes these tests are done in one of your prenatal visits, especially if you have a history of depression. This makes some sense because some women and their husbands have depression either before the pregnancy starts or shortly after. This screening test consisting of 10 written questions about your feelings and mood in the previous seven days. A score of 13 or higher usually indicates depression and a score of 10 to 12 suggests some depression. Since the Edinburgh scale is a screen and not a test, it cannot make a diagnosis. Referral to a qualified provider must be made to get accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

PPD is a form of major depression that is characterized by symptoms such as extreme sadness, anxiety, indifference, and changes in sleep, energy, and appetite. Symptoms like severe mood swings, difficulty bonding with your baby, panic attacks, recurrent thoughts of self-harm, and intense anger are also included.

It is also important to note that while PPD commonly occurs in mothers, as many as one in ten fathers get PPD. Many articles have indicated that postpartum depression in dad starts later and peaks later. This is often after 3, 4, 5, or 6 months, even as long as a year after the birth of your baby. With dads, symptoms are more likely to include anger, violent behavior, impulsive behavior, or risk-taking behavior and irritability.

Before you leave the hospital with your new baby, you and your partner should clearly define how household tasks will be shared. Who is going to cook, wash the floors, vacuum, wash the dishes, go shopping, clean the bathroom, wash the clothes, change the baby’s diapers, feed the baby, and get up at night with the baby? Making decisions about who is responsible for these tasks at home before you leave the hospital will protect most moms and dads from significant postpartum depression. The new baby changes everything and is a new opportunity to change as well. Moms and dads who resist change in routines or resist adaptation to the changes the new baby brings into the household create an environment of rigid thinking which makes everything much more work than necessary. Postpartum should be an active sharing process between you and your partner.