For many new parents, welcoming a new baby into the family is a joyous and exciting time. It’s fair to say, though, the experience comes with its fair share of sleepless nights, dirty nappies and a whole new level of exhaustion.
Having a baby is a life changing event, no matter how well prepared or organized you might be. Adding a new baby into the mix, even for the most experienced parents, can feel like a juggling act at times!
Adapting to your new life as parents takes time and can be challenging. It can be made even more challenging if you experience postpartum depression.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression (PPD), also known as postnatal depression (PND), is a type of depression that some people might experience after having a baby. Postnatal depression can also be experienced by fathers and partners. Men are also prone to developing of increase PPD and PND risk if their partner is also experiencing depressive symptoms following birth.
The condition can be just as serious as depression experienced at other times in life and, if left untreated, it can lead to serious long term mental health complications.
At the beginning of their care, all pregnant women will undergo complete reproductive histories with their midwife. This includes both a medical and mental health history. The aim of this screening, at the start of pregnancy, is to identify women who are at increased risk of developing mental health conditions in the perinatal period.
How common is postpartum depression?
The condition is more common than you might realize, with as many as 1 in 10 women experiencing it in the first year after giving birth.
It’s also less commonly known that 8-10% of fathers or partners can experience postnatal depression at rates very similar to PND in women, although further research is needed in this area. This condition can also be referred to as paternal depression.
A study into postnatal depression (PND) found the odds of developing this condition increased by 79% when mothers had baby boys compared to baby girls.
Who is at risk of postpartum depression?
There are many known risk factors that can increase the chances of someone developing postpartum depression. It’s important to remember, however, that if you have any of the following risk factors, it does not mean you will automatically develop the condition.
Common risk factors for postpartum depression are:
- Previous history of mental health problems
- Anxiety or depression in pregnancy
- Family history of postpartum depression
- Difficult partner relationship
- Lack of emotional support
- Birth complications
- A traumatic or stressful event.
It’s understandable to feel concerned if you know that one or more risk factors apply to you. You might also be worried about your partner developing the condition again if they’ve already experienced before. It’s natural to worry, but health professionals will know the signs to look out for, and will be able to make sure that you have the appropriate support in place, if needed.
Remember that although some people are at higher risk, anyone can experience postpartum depression after having a new baby. Having a baby can be stressful and overwhelming and brings with it an enormous sense of responsibility. This in itself can trigger postpartum depression, even if there are no other risk factors.
It it happens to you, remember it is not your fault and you are not alone.
Related reading: Drugs Commonly Used During Labour Linked To Postnatal Depression.
Is There An Increase PPD and PND Risk Giving Birth To Boys?
A study into postnatal depression (PND) found the odds of developing this condition increased by 79% when mothers had baby boys compared to baby girls.
There were other factors that contributed to this increase risk;
- Mothers who had complications during birth had a much higher likelihood of experiencing PPD or PND, than those mothers who had better outcomes.
- There is a relationship between the sex of an infant (Male) and the inflammatory immune response that may trigger depressive symptoms.
What causes postnatal depression?
Experts are not entirely certain of the exact cause of postnatal depression. It’s not clear why some women experience postpartum depression and others do not. It’s likely to be caused by a combination of factors.
Postpartum depression symptoms
Maternal depression can look different in different people. Some people might not realize they have it as they might feel symptoms such as fatigue and exhaustion are a normal part of life with a baby. Althought it’s normal to feel worn out when you have a new baby, a combination of other additional symptoms could be a sign of postpartum depression.
Symptoms of postpartum depression are:
- Lack of energy
- Exhaustion
- Difficulty sleeping
- Mood swings/depressed mood
- Unable to experience joy
- Changes in appetite
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Difficulty bonding or taking care of your baby
- Frightening or intrusive thoughts
- Avoiding social situations
- Lack of concentration or difficulty making decisions
- Crying for no obvious reason
- Feeling agitated or irritated by your partner or children
- Lack of libido.
Read more on the symptoms of PPD in our article Postpartum Depression Symptoms | 9 Signs You Have PPD.
Because some women might not realize they have postnatal depression, or might not link the symptoms to the experience of PND, it’s important for those around, such as partners, family and friends, to be aware of the signs, too.
If you think you or your partner might have postpartum depression, speak to your health practitioners. Seeking help from health professionals can feel like a daunting first step but speaking up will get you the support that you need and deserve.
Related reading: Post Natal Depression (PND) And Your Partner.
When does postpartum depression start?
Postpartum depression can occur at any point in the first year after having a new baby. However, for most people it’s more likely to develop in the first 3 months after birth.
The onset can be sudden or it can develop gradually, which makes the symptoms harder to recognize.
How long does postpartum depression last?
If left untreated, it can last for months, or even years, or lead to further mental health concerns.
To be able to treat the illness effectively, it’s important you get the right support in the postpartum period. Postpartum depression is not something to feel embarrassed or ashamed about, and doesn’t reflect your capabilities as a parent.
Don’t suffer alone. Postpartum depression is not something that will go away with time without the right treatment. If left untreated, it can become worse and lead to serious harm or even suicide in severe cases.
What’s the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?
You might have heard the term ‘baby blues’ and wonder whether it’s the same as postpartum depression.
Baby blues is a normal response to the initial transition period of parenthood. It can happen whether it’s your first baby or your fifth. It is probably the result of a sudden change in your hormones, in combination with lack of sleep and adjusting to your new life.
It’s normal to a sense of feeling overwhelmed, or be teary or anxious in the first few weeks after the birth of your baby. Baby blues is a mild form of depression where you can experience low moods for a short period of time. You are going through a process of huge change – both physically and emotionally – and it can take a couple of weeks to get into the swing of things as you heal and your family adjusts to your beautiful new addition.
It can be upsetting, but will usually pass within the first few weeks. If your feelings are more severe, or symptoms persist for an extended period after the birth, you could be experiencing postnatal depression.
Related reading: Mood Changes After Birth: The Blues Or Depression?
Postpartum depression treatment
The good news is that postpartum depression is treatable and, with the right treatment, most people will make a full recovery within 3-6 months. Roughly a third will still have symptoms after a year and 13% will still have symptoms after 2 years.
Treatment for postpartum depression can help you manage the symptoms of the illness as well as help you to bond and feel more connected to your baby.
Treatment will vary, depending on your individual circumstances, your symptoms and the severity of the condition. Treatment options can vary from self-help techniques, such as mindfulness and breathing exercises, or further medical interventions. Psychological therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) or medication mighty be recommended.
Speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor to find the best option for you.
Postnatal depression is more likely to develop in women who give birth to boys
A fascinating new study suggests giving birth to boys increase PND/PPD risk by as much as 70-80%. It goes even further to suggest that women who give birth to male infants after experiencing birth complications are at even greater odds of developing PND, increasing the risk by 174%, compared with those who have no complications.
This is because carrying a baby boy and having birth complications are both known to increase the body’s inflammatory immune response. There are known, documented associations between activation of inflammatory pathways and the onset of depressive symptoms.
Interestingly, the study also found that women who had an elevated risk and greater tendency towards stress and depressive symptoms outside of pregnancy, and therefore were at higher risk of developing PND, had reduced odds of PND after experiencing birth complications. This is probably because those women had greater post birth support already in place, in anticipation. This finding suggests interventions to support women can be effective in preventing PND developing in the postnatal period.
Researchers in this study identified two new risk factors for PND: both the gestation of baby boys (compared with baby girls) and birth complications. This knowledge could help health practitioners more easily identify women in pregnancy at increased risk of postnatal mental disorders. Knowing these additional PND risk factors early might mean more women are able to access vital support and professional help and aid their diagnosis.
Can men develop postnatal depression?
You might have heard that men can develop PND, and might be wondering whether this is in fact true. One myth surrounding postpartum depression is that it only affects women, but that is not the case. It is possible for men and partners to develop postnatal depression, and it’s more common than you might think.
You can learn more about paternal depression by reading our article Do New Dads Experience Postpartum Depression?
