Postpartum Depression

The topic of postpartum depression is not something I heard about until I was in my twenty’s. In fact, my understanding of the issue was very narrow-minded and judgmental on the idea that a mother could feel ill or unhappiness after such a wonderful experience. My understanding was it probably would not happen to me, or anyone that I could think of. I think it goes without further detail my ideas on the issue were uneducated and stereotyped from media stories of unfortunate happenings because of this disease.

The Highs and Lows of Motherhood

Our textbook gave very small detail on this type of depression, but it mentions that it effects 10% of new mothers. That seems like such a low amount, so I went to the internet to research if these were current ratings and found several website articles that listed the same findings.
Personally, I feel that is low and probably due to the sources they are researching. Many women might not confide in their healthcare providers or to the proper person’s attention, making it hard to believe that is a true number. However, I believe this issue needs to be addressed to the mother before delivery. By group sessions in Lamaze classes or their doctor explains in detail; not just a simple question “How are you feeling?”
This is how it went in my case. I feel blessed that I did not suffer from this type of depression for long, maybe six months. From about day 2- coming home from the hospital is what triggered it for me. I read a few books while I was pregnant, but nothing ever made me feel like I was a “candidate” for this kind of emotional rollercoaster. It took me about 3 weeks to help my brain catch on to the idea that this is a temporary feeling and grip on to what little sanity I felt was left. I really thought I was not going to feel down, I really thought that mothers who felt that way, where already depressed or had some other problem. For me, it was not anything like that. I had a normal pregnancy and felt so excited to have my little boy here in my arms. It was just this odd gut feeling that made me feel like something was wrong all the time. Nevertheless, I refused to fill the prescription for the anti-depressant unless it took too long to feel better, which took about 6 months to feel a bit better. I could feel myself starting to feel better, or myself again. My reaction to this life lesson was that whenever I feel comfortable enough with someone who is pregnant I always remind her of the realness of this depression. Being aware of what could happen helped me know that it was NOT a permanent state of mind. I feel like this is why so many women can be stuck in this depression, because they feel like they are trapped. Not aware of their resources that can get them help.
Babies are so rewarding and full of ways to show us how to experience the world…. Like our text says infants can sense the mother’s mood. I feel very blessed to have my son and I will have another baby, when the time is right!