It is common for new moms to hide their true stress levels and negative emotions from even their closest friends. They believe the pervasive cultural myth that all mothers are supposed to feel only loving, joyful emotions as they care for their new babies.
Many women are scared to be seen as a "bad" or "crazy" mom. Without a guideline to tell what's normal and what's not, they fear their babies will be taken away and never ask for the help they need.
Mood swings, irritability, fatigue, persistent tearfulness, forgetfulness and anxiety are common symptoms in new mothers. The vast majority of birth mothers cope with some version of the "baby blues." The good news is that these symptoms generally pass without any intervention within a couple of weeks. The postpartum mother's' body simply needs a little time to normalize the tremendous fluctuations in hormone levels after giving birth.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of "baby blues" don't always pass on their own. They may last longer and be more severe, including stronger mood swings, lack of interest in the baby or self, lowered daily functioning, hopelessness, depression, feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability. It is estimated that anywhere from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 postpartum women experience these symptoms of postpartum depression. Women with PPD may feel a little crazy, but they are still sane.
What if the experiences are even more difficult? Is a mother crazy if she has panic attacks, visions of bad things happening to her baby without being able to stop them, obsessions about germs or cleanliness, or other unreasonable fears? Probably not. Women with these symptoms are likely to have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What about the women who get sensationalized on the news, the ones who think their babies are from the devil? We've all heard stories about new mothers who think they were told to hurt themselves or their babies. Can these women be sane?
These moms suffer from postpartum psychosis, at the severe end of the postpartum mood disorder continuum. And yes, if we have to draw the line somewhere, this is it. Fortunately, postpartum psychosis is rare. Just one or two of every thousand women deal with this disorder. They experience visual or auditory hallucinations and delusions that are extremely dangerous. For safety's sake, these are the women in need of immediate medical attention and hospitalization. Their babies must be cared for by someone else, at least for a while.
I like to put it this way: Anytime a new mom is worried about the well being of herself and her child, she is probably still sane. After all, it takes a significant level of self awareness to be concerned about one's thoughts and feelings. Rather than judging or ostracizing new mothers with postpartum mood disorders, let's make it easier to get help. Every symptom I've described is treatable, and resources are available now.
Many women are scared to be seen as a "bad" or "crazy" mom. Without a guideline to tell what's normal and what's not, they fear their babies will be taken away and never ask for the help they need.
Mood swings, irritability, fatigue, persistent tearfulness, forgetfulness and anxiety are common symptoms in new mothers. The vast majority of birth mothers cope with some version of the "baby blues." The good news is that these symptoms generally pass without any intervention within a couple of weeks. The postpartum mother's' body simply needs a little time to normalize the tremendous fluctuations in hormone levels after giving birth.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of "baby blues" don't always pass on their own. They may last longer and be more severe, including stronger mood swings, lack of interest in the baby or self, lowered daily functioning, hopelessness, depression, feelings of inadequacy and vulnerability. It is estimated that anywhere from 1 in 5 to 1 in 10 postpartum women experience these symptoms of postpartum depression. Women with PPD may feel a little crazy, but they are still sane.
What if the experiences are even more difficult? Is a mother crazy if she has panic attacks, visions of bad things happening to her baby without being able to stop them, obsessions about germs or cleanliness, or other unreasonable fears? Probably not. Women with these symptoms are likely to have postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What about the women who get sensationalized on the news, the ones who think their babies are from the devil? We've all heard stories about new mothers who think they were told to hurt themselves or their babies. Can these women be sane?
These moms suffer from postpartum psychosis, at the severe end of the postpartum mood disorder continuum. And yes, if we have to draw the line somewhere, this is it. Fortunately, postpartum psychosis is rare. Just one or two of every thousand women deal with this disorder. They experience visual or auditory hallucinations and delusions that are extremely dangerous. For safety's sake, these are the women in need of immediate medical attention and hospitalization. Their babies must be cared for by someone else, at least for a while.
I like to put it this way: Anytime a new mom is worried about the well being of herself and her child, she is probably still sane. After all, it takes a significant level of self awareness to be concerned about one's thoughts and feelings. Rather than judging or ostracizing new mothers with postpartum mood disorders, let's make it easier to get help. Every symptom I've described is treatable, and resources are available now.
About the Author:
Christy Cuellar-Wentz, M.A., is an author and mental health professional specializing in providing postnatal support for the unique demands of new parenthood. To learn more, visit her website and discover simple secrets to being a new mother and happy too.
No comments:
Post a Comment