Let’s Talk About It: Postpartum Depression

Hello, my name is April Titus and I am an intern at Mala. I enrolled at Walden University where I am pursuing two master’s degrees, Clinical Mental Health Counseling and School Counseling. My hopes are to work alongside children to help them blossom through life.

Embrace the Healing

Becoming a mother is the most rewarding yet challenging aspect of life I have experienced. This profound experience is filled with joy, love, and of course, the countless challenges that arrive with it. For many of us, myself included, this new life experience can be tainted by the onset of postpartum depression (PPD). According to the Cleveland Clinic, PPD can be defined as a “type of depression that occurs after giving birth. It affects up to 15% of people and can cause emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and difficulty caring for the baby”. If you or someone you loved has been diagnosed with PPD, counseling can be a vital part of the healing process while reclaiming your sense of well-being.

Understanding PPD

The birth of a new baby can trigger some serious emotions in our bodies, from the initial excitement and joy all the way to fears and anxiety. How can I care for another human being? This experience can result in a not foreseen emotion, depression. PPD is a severe long-lasting depression that affects how a mother can care for herself and her baby. Some of the most common symptoms of PPD are persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, feelings of guilt or inadequacy (Mayo Clinic). If symptoms worsen, they can lead to unwanted thoughts of harming oneself or the baby. Supporting a new mother can make a significant difference in her recovery. Being patient is key in her journey to healing, try your best to understand from her perspective. Promoting rest and care while sharing responsibilities can ease her burden.

My Journey

On June 16, 2023, my baby girl was born. Soon after that, I noticed that my depression was getting worse. A feeling of being overwhelmed all the time came over me. Even the littlest tasks would set me off. I thought that I did not have a strong handle at that point. I was already a mother to three children, but my recovery was different this time. It was not much of a recovery at all. Rather than enjoying the blissful moments with my daughter life became a blur. I started going through the motions of diaper changes, feedings, and motherly duties all day and the sleepless nights did not help. Isolation is all I felt. I struggled with reaching out for help. Knowing the maternal bliss was missing I felt like a failure. I had already mothered three babies and had not experienced this emotion before. After talking to my midwife, I was diagnosed with PPD. A sense of fear and confusion came over me. How could I be failing as a mother now? I was referred to a counseling group that specializes in mothers with PPD. Although the journey was challenging, I learned so much from my own experiences. I have so much gratitude for my journey for the compassion and self-worth that it taught me. The most important that that I learned was that there’s no shame in struggling, in fact that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Symptoms of PPD

It is important to remember that not everyone who suffers from PDD will have the same symptoms, but I wanted to highlight some of the more common ones and harder ones to communicate to others.

Persistent Sadness: This is an extended feeling of being overwhelmed with sadness and hopelessness that you just cannot shake off.

Anxiety: Experiencing excessive worry, sometimes it can be so bad that you may have a panic attack.

Fatigue: Extreme tiredness and lack of energy. This one can be tricky because what new mother is not tired!? But this can occur EVEN after getting adequate sleep.

Changes in Sleep and Appetite: Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) or sleeping too much, as well as eating too much or not enough, again breastfeeding mothers can feel an increase in appetite too.

Difficulty Connecting with Baby: Struggling to form a bond with your baby or having a feeling of indifference towards them.

Irritability and Anger: Increased irritability or anger, even over small incidents that normally would not cause stress

Feelings of Guilt or Worthlessness: Feeling like you’re not a good mother or that you're failing in your new role.

Thoughts of Self-Harm or Harm to the Baby: Experiencing intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or your baby, I know this one can be so hard to talk about.

Cause of PPD

Although the exact root cause of this emotional state is not known, it is believed to be multiple contributing factors that can cause this state of mind. Being a new mom is accompanied by many hormonal, physical, and emotional changes in our lives.

Hormonal Changes: After childbirth, there is a significant drop in hormones which can cause mood swings and depression.

Physical Changes: The physical pain and changes in the body after childbirth can take a toll on our mental health.

Emotional Factors: Feeling overwhelmed by all the new responsibilities of parenthood, sleep deprivation, and lack of support can trigger PPD on their own or combined.

Risk Factors: Having a family history of depression (like I did), stressful life events, complications during childbirth, or even having multiple babies in one birth can all increase the risk of PPD.

Seeking Help

If you or someone you love are experiencing these symptoms or something close them, please reach out for help. Your OBGYN is a great place to start, and they can recommend counseling, support groups, or even medication to help get your mind back together. One treatment I cannot stress enough for PPD is SELF CARE. Do it before any of the symptoms occur! Remember that you are important; you are this baby’s whole world. In other words, you must take care of yourself to take care of others. It is proven that taking time for yourself, getting rest, and engaging in activities that you enjoy can not only improve your mood but your overall well-being.

Conclusion

PPD is a challenging experience that we do not have to experience alone. Many mothers have experienced this feeling, and with the right support system have overcome it to become a stronger more compassionate mother. Taking care of your own mental health is the same priority as taking care of your baby. Please remember to seek help even if you are unsure if you are suffering from this because someone is always willing to help.

 “Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we Go!” J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit.

Resources

If you're looking for more resources, organizations like Postpartum Support International and PostpartumDepression.org offer valuable information and support. Honey for Moms in Ferndale is a local inclusive motherhood center that specializes in mental health for new parents. Why Did No One Tell Me This: The Doulas’ (Honest) Guide for Expectant Parents, is a great book that provides honest advice alongside a fun, personality-filled illustrated guide.

References

Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Postpartum depression: Causes, symptoms & treatment. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9312-postpartum-depression

Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). Postpartum depression: Symptoms and causes. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617

Tolkien, J. R. R. (2012). The Hobbit. HarperCollins.