Postpartum depression may recur in subsequent pregnancies

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Pham Thi Yen - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. Doctor has more than 10 years of experience in examination and treatment in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Up to 85% of women have signs of postpartum depression. Most of these symptoms will be transient and relatively mild. However, some cases are persistent leading to many serious consequences affecting both mother and child.

1. Risk of postpartum depression recurrence in subsequent births

Childbearing time is a time when a woman has many obvious psychological and biological changes. The causes of postpartum depression are multifactorial.
Due to psychological changes: Those who have a lot of stress during pregnancy until delivery, those who have an unhappy married life, lack of attention and support from family members, but specifically The most important thing here is that the husband will be very susceptible to postpartum depression. People with a history of mental illness: People who have experienced depression during pregnancy have a very high risk of postpartum depression. Due to changes in the body: after childbirth, the hormones (namely estrogen and progesterone), cortisol decrease rapidly and markedly. Thyroid hormone also plummets making the body become tired, sluggish and depressed.

2. Identify postpartum depression to have a way to prevent it

The early signs of depression are as follows:
Body weakness: Many women feel distressed and hopeless after giving birth, even crying all day without any specific reason. chief. Feeling abandoned by family and society. Depressed women may fall into a constant state of fatigue, indifference to housework. They do not want to bathe, groom. Anxiety: Debilitated mothers often have many worries, often about their own health. Maybe they feel severe pain somewhere, but the doctor can't find the cause. Usually pain in the head and neck. Mothers have so many health complaints that this adds to their stress. The most common symptoms are pain in certain areas of the body and a feeling of being sick. These symptoms will get worse if left untreated. Mothers often feel stressed and lack of confidence when leaving the house.

Panic: You may feel panic over everyday situations, and have a hard time staying calm. Therefore, it is best to help them avoid situations where they are stressed. Stress: Stress often accompanies depression. Stressed mothers are more likely to experience severe depression. They often find it difficult to relax. This type of stress is a symptom of depression, which cannot be resolved with sedatives. A psychiatrist is needed for treatment. Feelings of obsession: may become fearful and believe that they are a danger to family members, especially the child. These fears are common symptoms of depression, which can be accompanied by guilt Distractions: A depressed mother often finds it difficult to concentrate on reading, watching TV, or having normal conversations. They will feel memory loss. Sleep disorders: Often people with depression have difficulty sleeping. They may stay awake until dawn, or not sleep at all. Some people sleep intermittently, wake up in the middle of the night, have nightmares from time to time, and can't get back to sleep. Many mothers feel more stressed in the evening, so they have long-term insomnia. Sex: Loss of interest in sex can happen to mothers with postpartum depression, often lasting for a while. Sexual interest will return once the mother's depression is over. Fathers should be patient and try to comfort their wives recovering from postpartum depression. Ways to help women feel comfortable include light touch, hugs, and caress, which is good for both. Postpartum women and their families should take steps to prevent postpartum depression. You can get help from obstetricians who have visited during pregnancy or psychological treatment centers.

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