Learn More About Postpartum Depression
As women prepare to head back home and adapt to their new lives, women tend to experience a flux of emotions and symptoms that will greatly affect them during the first six months to a year after giving birth. Labor is an intensive, life-changing experience, and no matter how the delivery went, the body goes through some serious trauma and will need time to recover. Postpartum recovery is just that; it’s about giving women the tools they need to feel more like themselves and take the time to overcome the challenges ahead.
Postpartum Depression – While not uncommon, it’s also a serious condition. Symptoms such as hopelessness, severe anxiety, thoughts of self-harm, crying spells, and the inability to bond with the child can last from 2 weeks to 6 months if not managed. Please call our office if you are experiencing any thoughts of self-harm or harming others, and we’ll help you to the best of our ability with our support groups and services.
Postpartum Blues – Postpartum blues are a normal response after delivery, where frequent crying and irritability are common. These occur during the first ten days after labor, and will generally subside with sleep and rest.
The Emotional Changes – Women after delivery also tend to experience changes that affect their overall mood. They can experience a fluctuation in emotions, and in many cases, rest, sleep and maintaining a healthy diet to exercise ratio can help manage these emotions.
Women’s clinics and hospitals that provide postpartum instructions give many benefits to the overall well-being of women and their new families, including:
- Providing the tools, they need to recover
- Give women knowledge and confidence as they heal
- Prepare new mothers with baby tips
- Give expectations on their recovery and overall moods
