{"id":49768,"date":"2024-05-15T12:02:46","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T09:02:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/?p=49768"},"modified":"2024-05-17T00:11:53","modified_gmt":"2024-05-16T21:11:53","slug":"ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to Overcome Postnatal Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the moment you first hold your little baby in your arms, a new period begins for you. As a fresh mother, you may encounter many new emotions. While your baby tries to adapt to this new world, you also try to adjust to motherhood, baby life, and this change. However, right at this time, a condition called postnatal depression, which affects about 2 out of 10 mothers to varying degrees and durations, may be waiting for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So what is postnatal depression? What are its symptoms? How long does it last? What are the ways to overcome this depression? Let&#8217;s examine together.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#What_is_Postnatal_Depression\" title=\"What is Postnatal Depression?\">What is Postnatal Depression?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Postnatal_Depression\" title=\"What Are the Symptoms of Postnatal Depression?\">What Are the Symptoms of Postnatal Depression?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#Causes_of_Postnatal_Depression\" title=\"Causes of Postnatal Depression\">Causes of Postnatal Depression<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#How_Long_Does_Postnatal_Depression_Last\" title=\"How Long Does Postnatal Depression Last?\">How Long Does Postnatal Depression Last?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#Treatment_of_Postnatal_Depression\" title=\"Treatment of Postnatal Depression\">Treatment of Postnatal Depression<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/ways-to-overcome-postnatal-depression\/#What_to_Do_About_Postnatal_Depression\" title=\"What to Do About Postnatal Depression?\">What to Do About Postnatal Depression?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Postnatal_Depression\"><\/span><b>What is Postnatal Depression?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mothers who have just given birth are called puerpera. The period, which lasts for about 6 weeks or approximately 42 days after childbirth, is defined as the postpartum period. This period is when the bond between mother and baby is established, the baby and the mother get used to each other, and the mother&#8217;s body needs time to return to its pre-pregnancy state. Therefore, many women may find this period challenging due to environmental, biological, and psychological factors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, a mother may exhibit symptoms of depression during the postpartum period. Conditions that are more severe than postpartum blues are called postpartum depression or postnatal depression. While postpartum blues occur in 70-80% of women who give birth, postnatal depression can occur in approximately 20% of them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Are_the_Symptoms_of_Postnatal_Depression\"><\/span><b>What Are the Symptoms of Postnatal Depression?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postnatal depression differs from the mild depressive state experienced after pregnancy with some symptoms. This depressive state is also called postpartum or baby blues. In the presence of postpartum blues, some mood changes are observed in almost every woman due to the rapid hormonal changes in the early days of childbirth, and these are considered normal. This blues mostly encompasses the responsibilities of motherhood, concerns about the baby, and the unhappiness that comes from the changes after childbirth. However, this condition is temporary. If the process continues and the following symptoms are observed, postnatal depression may be considered. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Symptoms of postnatal depression:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe sadness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Numbness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Irritability<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudden crying spells<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sudden outbursts of anger<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling worthless<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of energy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General body aches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insomnia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forgetfulness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complaints<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Depressive mood<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling inadequate<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lack of interest in caring for the baby<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty bonding with the baby<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loss of appetite and weight loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased appetite and overeating<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty concentrating and memory loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Panic attacks<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Inability to enjoy life<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feeling guilty<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desire to exclude oneself from social life<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thoughts of harming the baby<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Causes_of_Postnatal_Depression\"><\/span><b>Causes of Postnatal Depression<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There may be various reasons for postnatal depression. We can divide the reasons as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emotional fluctuations due to the sudden drop in pregnancy hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone, after pregnancy (Biological reasons)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mother&#8217;s genetic predisposition, problems between partners, early pregnancy, birth trauma, traumatic events from the past, financial problems, unwanted pregnancy, intense stress or depression before pregnancy, having other children at home, not receiving adequate support from family members (Psychosocial reasons)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-50085 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_2148402331-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_Does_Postnatal_Depression_Last\"><\/span><b>How Long Does Postnatal Depression Last?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postnatal depression usually begins in the first weeks after childbirth. The period between the 2nd and 8th weeks after childbirth is when baby blues can turn into a full-fledged depression. The effects of depression can last up to 1 year if left untreated. Therefore, the treatment is of great importance, as this condition can lead to different psychological problems in the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Treatment_of_Postnatal_Depression\"><\/span><b>Treatment of Postnatal Depression<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following treatment methods are used for postnatal depression:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychotherapy<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antidepressant medication<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Antipsychotic medication<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychotherapy is the most commonly used method, and it is generally sufficient for the treatment of depression. The use of medication is much rarer. However, if medication is necessary, the doctor can use alternative options suitable for breastfeeding mothers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_About_Postnatal_Depression\"><\/span><b>What to Do About Postnatal Depression?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To prevent postnatal depression or to support postnatal depression treatment, some methods can be applied. The ways to overcome postnatal depression are as follows:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First of all, be sure to support the mother. Spouses and close relatives, especially during the postpartum period, should not leave the mother alone and should make her feel that they are there for her.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help the mother with baby care. Especially mothers who give birth to their first child may worry about baby care and feel overwhelmed by the burden of motherhood. You should alleviate this situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Help the mother with household chores as well as baby care. Share the burden with the mother as much as possible.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Try to create time for the mother to have personal time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure that the mother sleeps or rests when the baby sleeps.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Limit visitors during the postpartum period.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Spouses need to spend time together so that the postpartum mother can feel herself as she used to besides being a mother. Plan activities that can elevate the mother&#8217;s mood, such as a romantic dinner, a movie date, spending time alone, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The spouse should be sensitive to the mother and show that their love and interest in her have not changed. This way, the feeling of worthlessness in the mother can be eliminated.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During this period, the mother should pay attention to her diet. Especially, avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a regular walk or exercise for at least 15 minutes every day. Simple exercises that do not strain the body can also be included.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most importantly, do not hesitate to seek support from a specialist if there are symptoms.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Postnatal depression can be experienced at different durations and severities from person to person. It should not be forgotten that this condition is a disorder, and the mother should not be burdened too much. The significant changes experienced can be difficult for the mother to accept. However, the mother should be made to feel that she can overcome this situation and should be supported at all times.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From the moment you first hold your little baby in your arms, a new period begins for you. As a fresh mother, you may&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":77147,"featured_media":50084,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[498,536],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-giving-birth","category-baby-blues","article","has-background","has-excerpt","has-avatar","has-author","has-date","has-comment-count","has-category-meta","has-read-more","thumbnail-"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49768","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/77147"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49768"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49768\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":50087,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49768\/revisions\/50087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/50084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49768"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49768"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bebek.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49768"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}