doctors have stopped dismissing post natal depression as simple baby blues and are beginning to treat this very debilitating illness as seriously as any physical illness that might befall a new mother. Understanding post natal depression (PND) is very important because it gives doctors inroads into understanding how to prevent the disorder. Preventing post natal depression is an effort that will eliminate a great of suffering for the many women who deal with the varying degrees of post natal depression.
Preventing Post Natal Depression
There are many factors that go into the chances of a woman experiencing post natal depression and some of the factors may be preventable or at least doctors can work to prevent it from happening in women who are at highest risk. Post natal depression is most common in first pregnancies but is not unheard of in subsequent ones. Some risk factors include:
If you experienced post natal depression with previous pregnancies you are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing it again. Looking for warning signs of depression recurring is the first step in preventing post natal depression in such a case.
If you have had episodes of bipolar depression you are at high risk for experiencing post natal depression. Keeping an eye on warning signs and knowing what treatment worked best to relieve the bipolar depression is key to preventing post natal depression in such a case.
If you are being treated for depression but had to stop medication to avoid side effects to the fetus you are at particular risk for experiencing post natal depression. You may have to restart depression medication to prevent post natal depression which means you may not be able to breast feed.
Professionals’ Efforts
Few women actually are aware of the signs of post natal depression so it is up to doctors and nurses who care for new mothers to be aware of the signs of post natal depression. The signs include :
Low self-esteem
Lack of confidence
Feelings of inadequacy and guilt
Negative thoughts
Feeling that life is meaningless
Inability to cope
Weepiness and irritability
Changes in sleeping patterns
Low sex drive
Anxiety, panic attacks or heart palpitations
Loss of appetite
Difficulty concentrating or remembering things
Doctors and nurses have to be sure to have excellent communication with patients to be aware of whether or not signs of depression exists and if there are risk factors for PND. The medical professionals’ knowledge of the patient’s history of depression is an important factor in preventing post natal depression. Beyond knowledge it is necessary to ask and get clear answers about how the mother is feeling and if all her needs (especially emotional) are being met in the weeks following child birth.
Criteria
Unfortunately, there are no criteria for assessing the needs of new mothers. According to some surveys many women are never asked any questions relating to post natal depression at any point in the first few months following delivery. Doctors even attest to the fact that they do not formally screen patients for PND even though they are aware that up to 15% of all new mothers experience some form of PND. This makes it even more important for women to know the signs and symptoms of PND and work with doctors in preventing post natal depression.
