ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Postpartum depression

What is postpartum depression?

4 May 2021

Childbirth, being an event that causes intense emotions in the mother, can produce melancholy, stress, and anxiety, generating what is known as baby blues, which lasts a few days or a couple of weeks, but when it lasts longer and the symptoms begin to increase, we are facing a major depression that can have serious consequences, known as postpartum depression.

If this depression is not properly addressed to control symptoms, it can trigger an extreme condition called postpartum psychosis.

Signs and symptoms Postpartum depression

  • Excessive crying for no reason.
  • Inability to concentrate.
  • Indecision.
  • Lack of appetite or excessive food intake.
  • Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping excessively.
  • Mood swings.
  • Moments of extreme anxiety and panic attacks.
  • Serious episodes of sadness and irritability.
  • Stress.
  • Problems bonding with the baby.
  • Isolation.
  • Extreme tiredness and weakness.
  • Apathy.
  • Irrational fears.
  • Suicide or death thoughts.

Potential risks:
Some factors have been identified that can contribute to developing postpartum depression, such as:

  • Previous postpartum depression.
  • Family members who have had depression.
  • If the baby was born with diseases or congenital defects.
  • Multiple births.
  • Depressive history.
  • Bipolarity.
  • Unwanted pregnancy.
  • Breastfeeding difficulties.
  • Bad couple relationship.
  • Economic struggles.

Diagnosis and treatment Postpartum depression

Tell your doctor if you are experiencing any of the symptoms described, explain how you feel and what ideas and emotions affect you the most. Don’t let something common like postpartum depression turn into psychosis and put your and your baby’s health at risk.

Once your doctor has listened to you, they will give you a depression questionnaire and request a blood test, as well as any additional tests they deem necessary to rule out possible conditions that may be contributing to the disorder.

The treatment to follow will depend on the degree of depression, but they will surely prescribe antidepressant medications and psychotherapy sessions, so that combined they manage to control the symptoms and get over the depression faster.

At the Neurological Center, a select group of highly trained and certified doctors in the various neurological specialties are ready to assist you with the quality and warmth that characterizes us.

Nervous system specialties

  • Neurology
  • Neurosurgery
  • Spine surgery
  • Pediatric neurosurgery
  • Neurophysiology
  • Neuro-rehabilitation
  • Neuro-pathology
  • Interventional neuro-radiology
  • Neuropsychology
  • Neuro-oncology
  • Neuro-otology
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuro-ophthalmology
  • Neuroimaging

Related centers and departments Postpartum depression

Neurology Center
High Specialty Surgery Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • clevelandclinic.org
  • topdoctors.es
  • mayocilinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • niddk.nih.gov
  • medigraphic.com
  • Acuña AA, Ramírez ZE, Azofeifa ZMF. Depresión postparto. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2021;6(09):.
  • Lugo AY, Guerrero HRE, López CMJ. Depresión posparto como factor asociado al abandono de la lactancia materna. Aten Fam. 2019;26(3):90-94.
  • Solís SM, Pineda MAL, Chacón MJ. Abordaje clínico y manejo de la depresión posparto. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2019;4(06):90-99.
  • Juárez IR, Santos GR, Lara A, et al. Consistencia interna y análisis factorial de la Escala de Depresión Posparto de Edinburgo en mujeres mexicanas embarazadas y puérperas. Reporte preliminar. Rev Neurol Neurocir Psiquiat. 2009;42(1-4):1-6.

How can we help you?

    The dissemination of the content of this material is for informational purposes only and does not replace, under any circumstance or condition, a consultation with a specialist doctor, for which the ABC Medical Center is not responsible for the different use that may be given to it. If you require more information related to the subject, we suggest you contact the specialist doctor you trust directly.