Postpartum Depression

1249 Words3 Pages

Postpartum Depression Having a child can be the happiest moment of a person’s life. A sweet little baby usually gives new parents tremendous joy. That joy can be accompanied with anxiety about the baby and the responsibility the new parents are faced with. The anxiety, in most cases, fades and joy is what remains. For some new mothers, however, the joy is replaced with a condition known as postpartum depression. “Postpartum depression is a serious disorder that until recently was not discussed in public…Women did not recognize their symptoms as those of depression, nor did they discuss their thoughts and fears regarding their symptoms” (Wolf, 2010). As such, postpartum depression is now recognized as a disorder harmful to both mother and infant, but, with early detection, is highly treatable with the use of psychotherapy, antidepressants, breastfeeding, and other natural remedies, including exercise. Postpartum depression is indeed a major psychological disorder that can affect the relationship between mother and baby. At this time, the cause of postpartum depression is unidentified, although several factors experienced during pregnancy can contribute to this disorder. Fluctuating hormone levels have been traditionally blamed for the onset of postpartum depression. Jennifer Marie Camp (2013), a registered nurse with a personal history of postpartum depression, states in the Intentional Journal of Childbirth Education that “current research demonstrates that PPD may be a compilation of numerous stressors encountered by the family, including biochemical, genetic, psychosocial factors and everyday life stress” (Camp, 2013, p. 1). A previous history of depression, depression during pregnancy, financial difficulties, a dif... ... middle of paper ... ...ing exercise, combined with herbal supplements, is a valuable and natural way to treat postpartum depression In conclusion, postpartum depression is now widely recognized as distinct from short-term “baby blues” anxiety. Rather than hiding their symptoms from embarrassment and shame, women can now confidently seek treatment, especially important since postpartum depression have a negative effect on both mother and infant. For this reason, it is so important to identify risk factors, and provide prompt treatment to mothers suffering from postpartum depression. Treatment options that include therapy, and occasionally antidepressants or herbal supplements, are successful in treating this disorder. For mothers who want to approach treatment in a more natural way, breastfeeding combined with exercise has been proven to reduce the effects of postpartum depression.

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