Postpartum Mood Disorders

Postpartum Mood Disorders:

Explain that over half of women giving birth will experience the “baby blues” which happens within 3-14 days of giving birth. Mothers may describe themselves as feeling exhausted, stressed out, crying without apparent reason, and feeling overwhelmed. For the majority of women, these symptoms will pass within 2 weeks and the mother will begin feeling better.

Postpartum depression is generally diagnosed when symptoms last 2 weeks or longer and impair the mother’s ability to function. Symptoms may include: crying spells, feelings of anxiousness, panic attacks, compulsive behavior, excessive worry about the baby, challenges bonding with the baby, feelings of incompetence and feelings of being overwhelmed or lacking support. Medication, additional support, and psychotherapy can be appropriate interventions. Some recent research suggests telephone support is also an acceptable intervention with positive results.

Postpartum Psychosis only occurs in 1-2 out of 1,000 pregnancies. Although rare, the symptoms are severe and require immediate medical intervention. Postpartum Psychosis is believed to be related to bi-polar disorder and women who have a previous diagnosis are particularly at risk. Symptoms include: rapid mood cycling, inability to sleep, thoughts about harming herself or the baby, hallucinations, voices, difficulty putting thoughts together and behaviors such as compulsive overspending. Suicide and infanticide can occur with postpartum psychosis and this is why it is a medical emergency when symptoms are recognized. Hospitalization, medication, and psychotherapy are appropriate interventions. Until medication efficacy is established, the mother should not be left alone with the baby under any circumstances.

Mothers who are breastfeeding are often worried that they will have to stop breastfeeding if they are placed on medication. Research is showing that many of the medications used to treat postpartum mood disorders are compatible with breastfeeding and that a competent and knowledgeable doctor can provide compatible medications.

Untreated mood disorders can lead to neglect and abuse, poor cognitive and motor skill development in infants, and feeding problems for the infant. Mothers who suffer from untreated mood disorders have more disrupted bonding with their babies, and usually wean their infants from breastfeeding much sooner than mothers who are not suffering from postpartum mood disorders. In addition, many mothers feel as though a part of their memories with their new babies has been taken away by postpartum mood disorders. Treatment is effective and mothers need to be encouraged that this is not their fault and they did nothing wrong, and t that treatment can help them feel better about being a new mother.

Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS):

EPDS is a self-assessment that can help women understand the severity of the symptoms they are feeling. Each question is answered by the woman based upon how she has been feeling over the past 7 days. A score above 10 indicates the possibility of postpartum mood disorders and requires evaluation by a doctor or therapist. Any thoughts of harm to self or others or reports of hallucinations should be reported to a professional for evaluation regardless of the EPDS score. Women should fill this out weekly during the first six weeks postpartum to track progress.

Why use a doula? 

Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.

I am prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. I offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth

• tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
• reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
• reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
• reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

Research shows parents who receive support can:

• Feel more secure and cared for
• Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
• Have greater success with breastfeeding
• Have greater self-confidence
• Have less postpartum depression
• Have lower incidence of abuse

What is a Doula?

What is a doula? 

 

The word "doula" comes from the ancient Greek meaning "a woman who serves" and is now used to refer to a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; or who provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily.

A Birth Doula

• Recognizes birth as a key experience the mother will remember all her life
• Understands the physiology of birth and the emotional needs of a woman in labor
• Assists the woman in preparing for and carrying out her plans for birth
• Stays with the woman throughout the labor
• Provides emotional support, physical comfort measures and an objective viewpoint, as well as helping the woman get the information she needs to make informed decision
• Facilitates communication between the laboring woman, her partner and her clinical care providers
• Perceives her role as nurturing and protecting the woman's memory of the birth experience
• Allows the woman's partner to participate at his/her comfort level

Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

A Postpartum Doula

• Offers education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester
• Assists with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying
• Offers evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and makes appropriate referrals when necessary

If you live in NW IN or South Suburbs of IL I would love to talk to you about your upcoming birth! Please email me at littlecriesandlullabies@gmail.com or call at (219)314-0517 for information on my services.

Also provide speaking engagements to discuss various issues of childbirth. I look forward to hearing from you!