Postpartum Depression

Question: Postpartum Depression? What's the difference between regular depression and post-partum (besides obviously that PPD is after you have a baby)? I've suffered from depression since my early teens, never used medication as treatment, and never considered myself "cured" but consider the good times to be times when my depression is in "remission" kinda like cancer. Anyway, I just had a baby boy a little over a month ago, and I'm definately experiecing more than "the baby blues." I already plan to talk to my doctor about this at my appointment next tuesday, but I want to know--how would I know (or the doctor know) whether it's PostPartum Depression or my regular depression back? What's the real difference? Thank you.

Answer: PPD is brought on by a hormonal imbalance, whereas the more common depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain. My late wife suffered from PPD, which was treatable and eventually passed as her hormones came back into balance.

Question: Postpartum depression? I am currently 33 weeks and was wondering if postpartum depression is genetic? I know that my mother had it really bad and im worried that I might get it. I've been very emotional though out this pregnancy. I have a tendency to cry half the time for no reason. I know this is hormonal. I was going to talk to my Doctor about it on Thursday do you think its a good idea or should i just wait and see what happens?

Answer: It is unclear exactly what causes postpartum depression, but research has shown that genetic risk, situational stresses, changes in a variety of hormones, and changes in certain chemicals in the brain may all play a roll in triggering this disorder. If you mother had it really bad then I would suggest you talking with your doctor before your baby is born just to be on the safe side. I have 4 children and never suffered from this disorder but my sister did..very badly. And coming for an outsiders point of view ..it was horrible! So please for your well being and that of your child talk with your doctor. After all having a baby should be a joyful ,happy and exciting time..not a sad one!! Good Luck to you and Congrats!!!

Question: postpartum depression? I had a baby about 3 weeks ago , I think I have postpartum depression and my husband think I should see a doctor . Should I call my obgyn ?? has any had this and what type of treatment helped ?

Answer: Hello, many people are affected by postpartum depression, and i am one of them. For me it didnt come on until my baby was 9 months (she had been very ill for that time and it suddenly hit me). For some people it can come on in the first few weeks. Its important to not get PPD confused with the 'baby blues'. Most women feel very emotional for a period after the birth. For me it was about a week. You should make an appointment with your doctor, who will discuss your feelings and decide with you what the best course of action would be. Im guessing that your doc will want to wait a few weeks before starting any treatment to see if your symptoms improve. Please dont beat yourself up about this, its a chemical imbalance that is taking place in your brain, and you have no control over it whatsoever. It took me a while to get it sorted, but i am currently taking a low dose of anti depressants and undergoing therapy... i feel like a new person, the old me! You are taking the first steps to being a happy and contented mom, and your husband sounds very supportive. Good luck! This website is very useful http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/health_advice…

Question: postpartum Depression? Hello, I wanted to get an advice .Recently I had a baby now 3 months .I have begun to get really sad because of lack of sleep and also Domestic problem .I cant really sleep at night unless i eat 4 her herbal sleeping med.I also have a 4 year old son who i cant handle(tantrum problem) I am begining to really hate this motherhood experiance.Could it be i have postpartum depression is there a natural way to cure it

Answer: if you believe you have postpartum depression my advice to you is go to a doctor and explain your situation. mothers have made awful and painful desisons because they didnt get the treatment they needed. i dont believe there is a natural way to cure a depression, medications and counseling though, do help. please get the help you need now, before you do something you might regret later.

Question: Can postpartum depression come on 5 months after giving birth? I have been feeling so down lately, I think I may have depression. I have never felt this way for so long in my life (i've been in the "rut" for over a month now). And if I do have postpartum depression, is it something I can see my regular doctor for or will I need to see a psychiatrist?

Answer: Yes, PPD is caused by hormonal changes in the body. This can occur for up to two years after birth. See your Ob/Gyn, and they can make a determination on whether you need psychiatric care or not.

Question: Is it possible to suddenly develop postpartum depression when your baby is 6 months old? I had this with my middle child so I know what it feels like. My youngest is 6 months old and I am suddenly feeling symptoms of postpartum depression. I was just fine until now. I breastfeed only and there have been no changes with that at all. I have been losing about half a pound every day or two also, for no reason at all. Is it just hormones being goofy or something else?

Answer: Yes you can develop post-partum depression any time during the first year. Also some women that previously had post partum depression will develop depression at other times. However with the weight loss it would be a very good idea to have your thyroid levels checked and low thyroid is also common after birth, can cause depression. While its more commonly associated with weight gain when it causes depression it can also cause weight loss. While you are there you should get your iron and insulin levels checked as well.

Question: Can you experience postpartum depression up to 9 mos after giving birth? I had a c- section to deliver my son and I became ill after and wasn't felling myself for about 3 mos. Also I went through a lot of hardships soon after. My son is now 9 months and I feel really depressed, perhaps I have a little the whole time, but now it seems to be unbearable. I feel like driving far away, but most of the time I stay in my room in the dark and sleep sometimes cry. Could this possibly be postpartum depression?

Answer: Yes. Cesarean births are often traumatic, and the depression can linger for a long time. It's best to focus on the positive, and talk to someone. In the future, please consider hiring a Doula. They really help women and families have a positive birth experience and lower the rate of postpartum depression. "Do You Doula?" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvmB96cRn…

Question: How do you know the difference between postpartum depression, baby blues and PMS? I had my baby four weeks ago and starting about a week ago my hormones have been insane and I've been having horrible mood swings. Everything drives me crazy, one minute I'm happy and the next I'm crying. I don't feel any bond with my baby at all and I'm just not happy. How do I determine if it's just simple PMS, or something more serious like postpartum depression?

Answer: If it lasts more than 6 weeks it's more than baby blues or pms. If you feel like you might hurt yourself or your baby then it's something more and you need to talk with your doctor. I didn't feel a real bond with my son either but I felt a connection. I didn't feel comfortable having him away from me so I knew there was something there. I didn't feel totally in love with him for months, it really took me a while.

Question: What can family members do for a person with postpartum depression who is refusing help? A family member is making excuses for every suggestion given to her. What can we do to convince her to get the help she needs. She is slipping further into postpartum depression.

Answer: Refusing help is a sign of depression. The more you try to help, the more they resent you for it. The important thing is to keep yourself healthy and not let it affect the rest of the family or the child/children.

Question: What are the signs of postpartum depression? i already suffer from depression. is postpartum depression the same? are there different signs? is there a way to overcome it without medication? i'm afraid because i have 3 children, and their fathers are no where around (2 have the same father). my youngest is 3 weeks. i just don't want to get frustrated and take it out on my 2 older kids.

Answer: If you have postpartum depression, you have had five or more depressive symptoms (including one of the first two listed below) for most of the past 2 weeks, including:1 * Depressed mood-tearfulness, hopelessness, and feeling empty inside, with or without severe anxiety. * Loss of pleasure in either all or almost all of your daily activities. * Appetite and weight change-usually a drop in appetite and weight, but sometimes the opposite. * Sleep problems-usually trouble with sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping. * Noticeable change in how you walk and talk-usually restlessness, but sometimes sluggishness. * Extreme fatigue or loss of energy. * Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, with no reasonable cause. * Difficulty concentrating and making decisions. * Thoughts about death or suicide. Some women with PPD have fleeting, frightening thoughts of harming their babies: these thoughts tend to be fearful thoughts, rather than urges to harm.