| The birth of a baby can trigger a range of powerful | | | | use of antidepressant medication, psychotherapy or a |
| emotions such as excitement, joy, even fears. But it | | | | combination of the two. The treatment depends on the |
| can also result in something you might not | | | | nature and severity of the depression and to some |
| expect-postpartum depression. It is a condition which | | | | extent on the individual preference. In severe cases |
| affects the mental health of many young mothers. The | | | | medication is generally recommended under the |
| symptoms are the following: strong feelings of | | | | supervision of a psychiatrist. |
| sadness, anxiety, or irritability, emotional stress which | | | | It is necessary to help young mothers cope with |
| interferes with taking care of self or | | | | postpartum depression. It is to be borne in mind that |
| family,tearfulness,trouble to motivate oneself to do | | | | everything cannot be done single handedly by the |
| normal, routine chores, compulsive overeating or | | | | young mother. She should get sufficient rest when the |
| diminished interest in food, lack of interest in self | | | | baby sleeps. Friends, relatives or spouse can be |
| grooming, inability to sleep when tired or too much | | | | solicited to assist in housework, baby care and cooking. |
| sleeping, trouble concentrating or making decisions, | | | | The young mother should find time for herself and the |
| forgetfulness, loss of pleasure or interest in doing things | | | | spouse. One need not be guilty if the medications |
| which used to be fun, undue worry about the baby, | | | | make it impossible to breastfeed the baby. A good |
| lack of interest in the new baby, fear of harming the | | | | mother is the one who takes care of herself so that |
| new baby, thoughts of self harm or suicide. | | | | she is able to take care of the baby. When the baby |
| The causes of post partum depression could be | | | | starts to have regular sleep during night, it is time to |
| hormonal changes. Sometimes the hormonal changes | | | | think about the mother's diet and exercise program to |
| in a woman's body may trigger some symptoms. The | | | | aid her get back into shape. Exercise and proper diet |
| amount of the two female hormones estrogen and | | | | will improve the mood and give a boost to the self |
| progesterone increase greatly during pregnancy in a | | | | esteem as well. Breastfeeding will help to jump start |
| woman's body. During the first 24 hours after childbirth, | | | | on shedding the baby weight. |
| these amounts decrease rapidly and keep dropping till | | | | If depression is interfering with one's ability to take care |
| it reaches the normal level. Apart from these biological | | | | of the baby, it doesn't make one a bad mother. Be |
| changes, numerous physical, psychological and | | | | aware of the fact that it is only a passing phase and |
| environmental factors also contribute to postpartum | | | | can be treated effectively. It is imperative to get |
| depression such as fatigue, broken sleeping patterns, | | | | professional help and follow the doctor's instructions if |
| insufficient rest etc. | | | | one is suffering from postpartum depression. Finally, |
| There are various breakthroughs in medical sciences | | | | the support of spouse and family is vital to assure |
| dedicated to the mental healthcare of young mothers. | | | | mental healthcare of young mothers. |
| The most common treatment for depression is the | | | | |