Postpartum depression is a psychological health problem that occurs in women after childbirth. It is different from common postpartum depression, but a more serious and persistent psychological illness. Postpartum depression can have a negative impact on newborns, mothers, and the entire family, so it is important to understand and prevent this disease.
What are the manifestations of postpartum depression?
1. Changes in mood
The most prominent symptom of the patient is persistent low mood, manifested as a gloomy expression, listlessness, drowsiness, easy tearing and crying. Patients often feel depressed and depressed, and often get angry over trivial matters. For a long period of time, most of the time the mood is low, even if there are a few days or 1-2 weeks of emotional improvement, but soon it falls back into depression. However, the degree of depression in patients is generally not severe, and emotional reactions still exist. A few humorous and mocking aphorisms can turn tears into laughter. A relaxed conversation can temporarily improve one's mood. Patients themselves can also perceive their own emotional abnormalities, but often attribute them to others or the environment.
2. Decreased self-evaluation
Excessive anxiety about infant health; Self blame and worry about not being able to take good care of the baby; Self destructive and self blaming; Full of hostility towards those around them, with disharmony in relationships with family and husband.
3. Lack of confidence in life
unwilling to feed infants; Feeling that life is meaningless; Reduced initiative and impaired creative thinking; Serious cases may involve suicidal ideation or behavior that harms infants.
4. Physical symptoms
easy fatigue; Difficulty falling asleep and waking up early; Decreased appetite.
Prevention of Postpartum Depression:
1. Prenatal Prevention
1. Strengthen perinatal health care, use various channels such as maternity schools to popularize knowledge about pregnancy and childbirth, reduce the tension and fear of pregnancy and childbirth among pregnant women, and improve self-care.
2. Pregnant women with a family history of mental illness should be closely monitored regularly to avoid any adverse stimuli and receive more care and guidance.
3. Moderate exercise. Research has shown that low-intensity aerobic exercise such as walking after meals should be performed before and after childbirth, especially when feeling down. It is best to choose to enjoy sports to the fullest, as this can help release negative emotions and uplift one's spirits. Proper exercise can make you feel happy, keep you away from illness, restore your beautiful figure faster, improve the psychological resilience of mothers, and increase their exposure to the outside world.
2、 Postpartum prevention
1. Maintain sufficient sleep. Lack of sleep is a factor that can cause postpartum depression, so experts suggest that mothers should strive to make up for sleep, especially during their baby's nap time, and try to use it to supplement sleep. In addition, friends, family, and even hiring helpers can also help you achieve the goal of supplementing sleep.
2. Learn to release emotions. Scientific evidence shows that if a mother is calm, the baby will grow better. So postpartum mothers should learn to vent their emotions and maintain calmness. Methods such as deep breathing, meditation, and bathing can help relieve stress, make you a better tempered mother, and enhance parent-child relationships.
3. Have more heart to heart conversations. One major reason for postpartum depression is that mothers bear all the worries themselves. In fact, mothers can list the things they fear most about becoming parents and talk to their husbands or friends about them. Don't hide everything in your heart, let your emotions find a way out, and it can truly solve various worries.
4. Accept imperfections. Many mothers believe that they cannot do worse than other mothers, often feeling very disappointed because they did not do everything well and forcing themselves to have unrealistic expectations. In fact, it is very normal for newborns to have weak physical constitution and some minor problems. As for the lack of parenting experience, they can learn slowly. Don't demand too much from yourself, be brave to seek and accept help. In fact, the correct concept should be to become a happy mother, not a perfect mother.
5. Learn to be flexible. After becoming a mother, there are many and complicated things, many of which are unplanned situations. Instead of complaining, it is better to enjoy this unpredictability and the different challenges of life.
Please remember that postpartum depression can be treated, and receiving appropriate support and treatment can help you recover your health. If you or someone you know is experiencing this kind of distress, please take timely action and seek help from a doctor or professional organization.