Postpartum Depression (Research Paper Sample)

Postpartum Depression
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Introduction
A Postpartum depression (PPD) is experienced by the new mothers after they give birth (Poulin, 2006). It is normal for the mothers to undergo a multitude of powerful emotions that is triggered by the experience of giving birth. The experience varies from fear to joy, excitement to anxiety (Roan, 1997). The feeling may also be referred to as the mood swings or ‘postpartum baby blues’ apart from the crying spells that the mums go through although they don’t last for long.
Thesis statement
The Postpartum depression (PPD) is more severe and tends to last for a longer period in some mothers. On rare occasions, an extreme disorder of the moods referred to as postpartum psychosis may also occur (Poulin, 2006). Therefore, it is a complication that new mothers experience after giving birth.
Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of the postpartum depression range from mild to the severe ones.
Postpartum baby blues symptoms
The signs and symptoms of postpartum baby blues¬ only take place from the first few days to a week or two weeks after giving birth. There are feelings of emotional numbness, severe sadness, and emptiness. The baby cries a lot and is restless.
The mother feels irritated most of the time and has trouble with sleeping. There is a lack of appetite and constant tiredness in the mother. The mother has constant headaches and backaches. You always have recurring thoughts of suicide, either killing your baby or harming yourself and your baby. You tend to isolate from your friends, family or from the daily chores that are always pleasurable to the person with postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression symptoms
Postpartum depression can be mistaken for the baby blues in the first place. But the signs and symptoms are more severe and last for a long time. The effects interfere with one’s ability to take care of the baby as well as handling other daily chores. The symptoms occasionally appear after first few weeks of giving birth, but the effects begin later. They can go up to six months after birth.
The symptoms of postpartum depression include excessive crying of the baby mostly during sleeping time. You experience severe mood swings accompanied by a depressed mood.
You will have difficulty in bonding with the baby especially when your baby is also affected by postpartum depression. There is a continued feeling of irritability as well as intense anger. You are unable to sleep, a condition commonly referred to as insomnia. You also tend to sleep a lot.
Consequently, you find that there are drastic changes in the eating habits. Either you eat too or too little because you lack appetite. You lose a lot of energy due to depression. It leads to overwhelming fatigue.
Recurrent thoughts of suicide and death always flood the depressed mother. This is accompanied by excessive anxiety and panic of attacks to you and your baby. The depressed mother has fears of not being a good mother and has the negative attitude towards taking care of the baby.
You always have diminished pleasure and interest in activities that you used to perform very well or enjoy. The feeling leads to a negative attitude towards everything that you do. As a result, the feeling of worthlessness, inadequacy and shame overshadows the depressed mum. Thoughts of harming your baby or yourself never leave your mind
Postpartum depression may last for several months or even more than a year if it is left untreated.
The Effect of Postpartum Depression on the Children
Postpartum Depression interferes with the ability of the baby to function. The baby will be affected in the following areas when the depression is left untreated for a long time.
Social problems
The children of born the depressed mothers will have problems in creating good relationships either with the family, friends or with their future partners. They will find it difficult to make friendship in their schools. The affected children may act out in ways that are destructive, or may be socially isolated and withdrawn.
Behavioural difficulties
The depressed kids of the depressed mothers are more often to develop behavioural issues as they grow up. The problems may include temper, hyperactivity, sleep problems, aggression and tantrums.
Depression
There is a big risk of developing major depression at an early life especially for the children born of depressed mothers. The effects are severe as it can lead to suicide or even killing your baby.
Delays in cognitive development
There are delays in terms of development in the children and babies born of depressed mothers. They may difficulties in learning how to walk or walk l...