Postpartum Depression- Acknowledging Your Symptoms

Women can experience highs and lows after labor. If is very important to be able to recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression and enable women to deal with it. Birthmothers can go through a period of loss including various stages of grief such as anger, sorrow, denial, shock, and depression. The adoption process is very emotional, so it’s completely normal that postpartum depression in birthmothers appears after the placement. Knowing this makes it so important for adoptive parents to empathize demonstrate compassion for birthmothers. We’ve listed some ways to manage some of the complications from postpartum depression.

Coming to Terms with Your Symptoms

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a complex mix of behavioral, physical, and emotional changes that happen in a birthmother after giving birth. It’s a form of depression that can occur anytime within four weeks after the delivery. Many women experience these emotional and physical changes. Symptoms usually include fatigue, frequent mood changes, difficulty sleeping, and appetite changes. However, these are also accompanied by other symptoms usually linked to major depression, which include a feeling of worthlessness, loss of pleasure, hopelessness, and depressed mood. No one knows what causes postpartum depression in birthmothers, but it may be due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body. During pregnancy, the amount of hormones in a woman’s body increases gently. After the childbirth, these hormones drop rapidly which is a shock for your body.

Ways to Cope- A Strategy

• Remember that being sad is not a weakness. If all you want to do is watch movies or sleep, do that.  Always try to acknowledge your feelings and feel whatever you need to feel.
• Many birthmothers struggle with a feeling of inadequacy and self-blame, but you should remind yourself that you’re strong every day. Try to appreciate people around you who want to be there for you. If you want to talk to someone who has been through postpartum depression, try to contact other birthmothers. You can also join a support group or seek a professional help if it gets too difficult.
• Get out of the house and do something you’ve always wanted to do. You can also consider including some new activities into your daily routine. This is a way to create some experiential healing.
• Remember that this is a medical condition and there are medicines that can be helpful, so talk to your health care provider and ask for advice.
• Don’t isolate yourself and try to maintain a relationship with your family and friends since you need to be surrounded with people who want to help you.
• If you’re feeling extremely anxious, scared or you can’t cope with everyday situations, ask for a professional help.

Postpartum depression is not unknown and is definitely not something to be ashamed of. It happens frequently, so if you or a birthmother you know start showing symptoms, now you know how to recognize and handle them.