Postpartum Depression & Free Siddha Energy Remedies

Postpartum depression (PPD) [?????????? ?????], also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder associated with childbirth, which can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, irritability, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns. Onset is typically between one week and one month following childbirth. PPD can also negatively affect the newborn child. The risk factors, being of more concern, Siddha Spirituality of Swami Hardas Life System consider that our readers to read this article and try to prevent the postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression Definition

A depression suffered by a mother following childbirth, typically arising from the combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue; postnatal depression.

Postpartum depression Symptoms

Symptoms of PPD can occur at any time in the first year postpartum. Typically, a diagnosis of postpartum depression is considered after symptoms persist for at least two weeks. These symptoms include, but are not limited to:

Emotional

Persistent sadness, anxiousness or “empty” mood
Severe mood swings
Frustration, irritability, restlessness, anger
Feelings of hopelessness or helplessness
Guilt, shame, worthlessness
Low self-esteem
Numbness, emptiness
Exhaustion
Inability to be comforted
Trouble bonding with the baby
Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby

Behavioral

Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities
Low or no energy
Low libido
Changes in appetite
Fatigue decreased energy and motivation
Poor self-care
Social withdrawal
Insomnia or excessive sleep

Cognition

Diminished ability to make decisions and think clearly
Lack of concentration and poor memory
Fear that you can not care for the baby or fear of the baby
Worry about harming self, baby, or partner

Onset and duration

Postpartum depression onset usually begins between two weeks to a month after delivery. PPD may last several months or even a year. Postpartum depression can also occur in women who have suffered a miscarriage.

For fathers, several studies show that men experience the highest levels of postpartum depression between 3–6 months postpartum.

Parent-infant relationship

Postpartum depression can interfere with normal maternal-infant bonding and adversely affect acute and long-term child development. Postpartum depression may lead mothers to be inconsistent with childcare. These childcare inconsistencies may include feeding routines, sleep routines, and health maintenance.

In rare cases or about 1 to 2 per 1,000, the postpartum depression appears as postpartum psychosis. In the United States, postpartum depression is one of the leading causes of the annual reported infanticide incidence rate of about 8 per 100,000 births.

Image result for postpartum depression symptoms during pregnancy — Symptoms During Pregnancy

Postpartum depression Causes

The cause of PPD is not well understood. Hormonal changes, genetics, and major life events have been hypothesized as potential causes.

Evidence suggests that hormonal changes may play a role. Hormones which have been studied include estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormone, testosterone, corticotropin-releasing hormone, and cortisol.

Fathers, who are not undergoing profound hormonal changes, can also have postpartum depression. The cause may be distinct in males.

Profound lifestyle changes that are brought about by caring for the infant are also frequently hypothesized to cause PPD. Mothers who have had several previous children without suffering PPD can nonetheless suffer it with their latest child.

Despite the biological and psychosocial changes that may accompany pregnancy and the postpartum period, most women are not diagnosed with postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression Risk factors

While the causes of PPD are not understood, a number of factors have been suggested to increase the risk:

Prenatal depression or anxiety
A personal or family history of depression
Moderate to severe premenstrual symptoms
Stressful life events experienced during pregnancy
Maternity blues
Birth-related psychological trauma
Birth-related physical trauma
Previous stillbirth or miscarriage
Formula-feeding rather than breastfeeding
Cigarette smoking
Low self-esteem
Childcare or life stress
Low social support
Poor marital relationship or single marital status
Low socioeconomic status
Infant temperament problems/colic
Unplanned/unwanted pregnancy
Elevated prolactin levels
Oxytocin depletion

Of these risk factors, formula-feeding, a history of depression, and cigarette smoking have been shown to have additive effects. Some studies have found a link with low levels of DHA in the mother.

Not surprisingly, women with fewer resources indicate a higher level of postpartum depression and stress than those women with more resources, such as financial. Rates of PPD have been shown to decrease as income increases.

Women with fewer resources may be more likely to have an unintended or unwanted pregnancy, increasing the risk of PPD. Women with fewer resources may also include single mothers of low income. Single mothers of low income may have more limited access to resources while transitioning into motherhood.

Violence

A meta-analysis reviewing research on the association of violence and postpartum depression showed that violence against women increases the incidence of postpartum depression. About one-third of women throughout the world will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

Violence against women occurs in conflict, post-conflict, and non-conflict areas. It is important to note that the research reviewed only looked at violence experienced by women from male perpetrators, but did not consider violence inflicted on men or women by women. Further, violence against women was defined as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women”.

Psychological and cultural factors associated with an increased incidence of postpartum depression include a family history of depression, stressful life events during early puberty or pregnancy, anxiety or depression during pregnancy, and low social support. Violence against women is a chronic stressor, so depression may occur when someone is no longer able to respond to the violence.

Image result for postpartum depression risk factors — Risk Factors

Postpartum depression Diagnosis

Criteria

Postpartum depression in the DSM-5 is known as “depressive disorder with peripartum onset”. Peripartum onset is defined as starting anytime during pregnancy or within the four weeks following delivery.

The criteria required for the diagnosis of postpartum depression are the same as those required to make a diagnosis of non-childbirth related major depression or minor depression. The criteria include at least five of the following nine symptoms, within a two-week period:

Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, nearly every day, for most of the day or the observation of a depressed mood made by others
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities
Weight loss or decreased appetite
Changes in sleep patterns
Feelings of restlessness
Loss of energy
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Loss of concentration or increased indecisiveness
Recurrent thoughts of death, with or without plans of suicide

Postpartum depression Screening

In the US, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists suggests healthcare providers consider depression screening for perinatal women. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pediatricians screen mothers for PPD at 1-month, 2-month and 4-month visits.

Postpartum depression Prevention

A 2013 Cochrane review found evidence that psychosocial or psychological intervention after childbirth helped reduce the risk of postnatal depression. These interventions included home visits, telephone-based peer support, and interpersonal psychotherapy.

Support is an important aspect of prevention, as depressed mothers commonly state that their feelings of depression were brought on by “lack of support” and “feeling isolated.”

In couples, emotional closeness and global support by the partner protect against both perinatal depression and anxiety. Further factors such as communication between the couple and relationship satisfaction have a protective effect against anxiety alone.

In those who are at risk, counseling is recommended. In 2018, 24% of areas in the UK have no access to perinatal mental health specialist services.

Image result for postpartum depression prevention — Prevention

Postpartum depression Treatment

Treatment for mild to moderate postpartum depression includes psychological interventions or antidepressants. Women with moderate to severe PPD would likely experience a greater benefit with a combination of psychological and medical interventions. Exercise has been found to be useful for mild and moderate cases.

Postpartum depression Therapy

Both individual social and psychological interventions appear equally effective in the treatment of PPD. Social interventions include individual counseling and peer support, while psychological interventions include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Other forms of therapy, such as group therapy and home visits, are also effective treatments.

Internet-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (iCBT) has shown promising results with lower negative parenting behavior scores and lower rates of anxiety, stress, and depression. iCBT may be beneficial for mothers who have limitations in accessing person CBT.

Postpartum depression Medication

A 2010 review found few studies of medications for treating PPD noting small sample sizes and generally weak evidence. Some evidence suggests that mothers with postpartum depression will respond similarly to people with major depressive disorder. There is evidence which suggests that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are an effective treatment for PPD.

However, a recent study has found that adding sertraline, an SSRI, to psychotherapy does not appear to confer any additional benefit. Therefore, it is not completely clear which antidepressants, if any, are most effective for the treatment of PPD, and for whom antidepressants would be a better option than non-pharmacotherapy.

Breastfeeding

There are no antidepressants that are FDA approved for use during lactation. Most antidepressants are excreted in breast milk. However, there are limited studies showing the effects and safety of these antidepressants on breastfed babies. Regarding allopregnanolone, very limited data did not indicate a risk for the infant.

Other therapy

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has shown efficacy in women with severe PPD that have either failed multiple trials of medication-based treatment or cannot tolerate the available antidepressants.

As of 2013, it is unclear if acupuncture, massage, bright lights, or taking omega-3 fatty acids are useful.