Feeling blue, sad or overwhelmed immediately after giving birth is completely normal. It’s when these feelings persist for months that you may need to look a little deeper.
Parenting is hard. Besides the all-encompassing lifestyle adjustment after having a baby, a new survey revealed that the average mother works the equivalent of two and a half full-time jobs while raising her children – starting at around 6am and continuing her motherly duties until after 8pm, seven days a week.
It’s easy to see why having a new baby can take quite a lot of getting used to, but when you’re exhausted, stressed and overwhelmed for an extended period of time, something else might be wrong.
“It’s normal for new parents to go through an adjustment period where they might feel blue. Additionally, mothers may find themselves weepy without cause for a few days after birth due to hormonal changes and milk coming down,” says psychologist Lynette Dean. “If, however, these symptoms persist, it might be postnatal depression (PND) or anxiety,” she says.
What is PND?
Postnatal depression affects around one in 10 women. The symptoms of PND are the same as those in ‘normal’ depression, except that it starts up to a year after giving birth. This includes withdrawal, tiredness, weepiness, lack of self-care, lack of appetite, and feeling overwhelmed. Anxiety can also occur without any symptoms of depression.
In a small percentage of women, this could escalate into post-partum psychosis, which is severe and requires immediate medical attention.
Before you start worrying about depression, rule out sleep deprivation as the cause, cautions Dean. “If you manage to get a good night’s sleep for a few nights and the symptoms still persist, look further.”
There are a number of possible causes for the condition, including post-birth hormonal fluctuations, societal pressure, and a chemical imbalance.
Get help
Whatever the cause, you should seek treatment if the new addition to your family is making your life less than joyful. Speak to your doctor or a psychologist or find a support group, which has proven to be effective for women with PND, says Dean. “PND is completely treatable – either by learning to cope with the adjustment through professional help, medication, talk therapy or a combination thereof.
“If you’re struggling as a new mother, remember to be kind to yourself. Acknowledge that it’s a major life adjustment, use counselling as a tool, and get your spouse on board too.”
“And never be too proud to ask for help. If only more mothers would speak up about their hardships, fewer women would feel the overwhelming need to be impossibly perfect,” advises Dean
• Contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) for help.
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