Is it Post Partum Depression, Post Partum Psychosis or The Baby Blues?

 

Baby Blues

• It is normal for women to feel weepy or moody shortly after giving birth.
• Symptoms of Baby Blues:
  • Mood swings
  • Anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Irritability
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Crying
  • Reduced concentration
  • Appetite problems
  • Trouble sleeping
• Baby blues should only last a few days to a week or two after your baby is born.
• The reason for the baby blues is because hormones are changing quickly and it’s an adjustment to add a new baby to your daily schedules and such.
• Your lacking sleep, you may be having difficulties with breastfeeding and you may just need a better support system!

PPD (Post Partum Depression)

• Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, eventually it interferes with your ability to take care of your self and your baby.
• Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth but may begin later up to a year after giving birth.
• Symptoms of PPD/PPA:
  • Depressed mood or severe mood swings
  • Excessive crying
  • Difficulty bonding with your baby
  • Withdrawing from family and friends
  • Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
  • Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much
  • Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy
  • Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  • Intense irritability and anger
  • Fear that you’re not a good mother
  • Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
  • Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
  • Severe anxiety and panic attacks
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

Post Partum Psychosis

• Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition that typically develops within the first week after delivery.
• Symptoms Include:
  • Confusion and disorientation
  • Obsessive thoughts about your baby
  • Hallucinations and delusions
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Paranoia
  • Attempts to harm yourself or your baby
•  Postpartum psychosis may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment.

Treatment Options

• First of all, make sure you see a doctor knowledgeable about Post Partum Depression or Post Partum Psychosis so that they can work with you to find the right treatment for you.
• There are many medications you can take, most of them are SSRI medications, but some are tricyclic medications. Most medications used to treat PPD and PPA are safe for breastfeeding.
• Natural Treatments:
  • Go outside once a day for at least 10-15mins.  The sun does wonders for mama and baby’s mood.
  • Exercising releases endorphins and releases stress which can help to elevate mood even if only for a short period of time each day.
  • Talking to a therapist is great and they can help you learn ways to cope with stress or bad feelings and learn your own triggers for mood instability. This is a great way to have a source for venting to about life struggles and your feelings without feeling judged.
  •  CBD Oil can positively influence mood and mental health disorders. (Safe for Breastfeeding and Pregnancy)
• These drugs are generally safe to take while breastfeeding. The amount of the drug passed into milk is minimal and amounts in blood serum of babies of mothers taking these drugs is generally even lower or nondetectable. There are many other safe medications or medications in the safer category. You should always discuss with your doctor. If your doctor simply says no medication is compatible with breastfeeding, you may want to seek a second opinion as many medical professions want to cover themselves due to liability issues. If you do take a medication to help treat your condition, the best thing to do is keep a diary directly prior to starting the medication of you child’s behavior and eating habits. Then once you start taking the drug and in the weeks immediately following keep track of your baby’s behavior. Compare both lists a few weeks after starting the drug to get a good idea of if your baby is experiencing any side effects.
  • Zoloft
  • Lexapro
  • Celexa
  • Prozac
  • Wellbutrin
  • Effexor
  • Paxil
• If a medication doesn’t seem to be working for you speak to your doctor. Many medications can take a full month or more to fully kick in. You may need a higher dose. You may need to try another medication or combination of drugs. Not everyone reacts to all of the drugs out there in the same way. If you have side effects on one drug that is undesirable, try another. It can take trying a handful of drugs or more before you find the right single drug or the combination which will work for you.
• Not seeking treatment will effect your child. An unhealthy mother cannot properly care for her baby. An unhealthy depressed or constantly anxious mother can have such a chemical imbalance that it inhibits her ability to make hormones needed for proper milk production. It can inhibit bonding with her baby and can make mom stop breastfeeding.

Does stopping breastfeeding help my symptoms?

• In most cases, breastfeeding mothers generally have less PPD than formula feeding mothers, because nursing your baby can lower your stress level overall, encourage bonding with the new little person in your life, and give you the positive feelings that go along with nurturing your baby in a way that only you can do. Moms release endorphins (a chemical called Oxytocin) during a let down which has a calming effect and can make mom feel sleepy. This chemical can help prevent or lessen post-partum depression and anxiety. If you stop breastfeeding it can make the symptoms worse since you would no longer be getting the natural endorphins.

Resources

• Support Groups for PPD:
  • http://www.postpartum.net/get-help/locations/
• Facebook Group for Mental Health:
  • https://www.facebook.com/groups/1535872206658543/
• Mom Groups/Breastfeeding Support Groups:
  • https://www.mops.org/get-started/find-a-group/
  • http://babybluesconnection.org/finding-help/bbc-groups/
  • http://www.llli.org/webus.html
  • https://breastfeedingusa.org/content/breastfeeding-counselor-locations
  • http://www.postpartumprogress.com/ppd-support-groups-in-the-u-s-canada