Postpartum Depression

I was just at a meeting where we discussed postpartum depression and how to screen new moms and some of the risks. My office uses the Beck Depression Inventory for those who need a good, validated tool.

In terms of risks, sleep deprivation is high on the list as you would imagine. Another risk that has been identified is disappointment in the birth, with partner support, nursing, or with the baby. The way I talk about it with my patients, is that when the reality of your situation doesn’t match up with your expectations, there are lots of powerful feelings that surface.

I often see this with my patients who struggle with breastfeeding. When their experience is different than their expectation, there can be feelings ranging from frustration, anger, sadness, and guilt to feeling helpless, overwhelmed, anxious and losing confidence.

Postpartum depression is not something to be ashamed of. It can happen to anyone. I have a friend who is a maternity nurse, who has helped thousands of moms get babies latched on and breastfeed. When she was unable to breastfeed her own baby, she developed postpartum depression and needed medication and counseling. It was a difficult time for her and her partner. Thankfully, she recovered and has been able to nurse her other 2 children, and avoided postpartum depression.

Nursing a baby requires a whole new skill set, which thankfully many women and babies figure out. However when breastfeeding doesn’t go well, there can be a spiral towards postpartum depression. Early recognition and intervention is key to minimizing the effects on the mom and the family. Postpartum Support International is a wonderful resource for more information and help: www.postpartum.net/