Many future mothers are sure: the most difficult period ends with the birth, and then only the joys of motherhood are waiting for them. But in fact, a young mother may face longing, a sense of her own inadequacy and even an aversion to her own baby. We will find out what is psychological depression after childbirth, and how to reduce its impact on the mother's life.
In English, postpartum depression sounds poetic, and in some ways even romantic - Baby blues. But there is nothing romantic in the depressed state of the mother after childbirth. To define this state is simple. If a young mother cries without reason, apathetic, very quickly gets tired, does not want to communicate with her baby and because of this constantly blames herself for being a bad mother, this term is quite applicable to it. According to European studies, up to 80% of mothers fall into this condition several days after the birth of the child. In approximately 10% of women, the so-called Baby blues can develop into a clinical form of psychological depression after childbirth and even in psychosis.
An unprecedented surge of Baby blues in its most extreme manifestations occurred in the 50s of the last century. In 1953, cases of abuse of mothers with newborn children, which affected the entire world public, were made public in the United States. What is the reason for this? According to the latest studies, modern women have reduced the level of synthesis of the hormone oxytocin, which triggers and regulates the birth process, and is also responsible for the formation of an instinct, through which a woman at the call of the heart is immersed in caring for the child. Another reason is that many cases of caesarean section are more frequent. Most women, thanks to birth travail, develop maternal love, which is so necessary for establishing contact between mother and child. In the case of caesarean section, a woman does not seem to give birth, others do it for her. That joint work, which the baby goes along with his mother and which at first is the main link between them, is absent. Often a woman literally has to learn to love her own child. This can take months, or even years.
Doctors call the main cause of depression after childbirth is the inevitable physiological changes in the female body. For a long nine months, a woman bore a child under her heart. Her body gradually adapted to life for two, and suddenly after birth there is another perestroika! After the birth of the child, the mother again has to tune in to an "independent" life. First, the young mother's metabolic rate and blood volume decrease, and blood pressure decreases. Secondly, the production of thyroid hormones is significantly reduced. Third, the level of progesterone and estrogen drops sharply after birth, which is the root cause of female depression. To influence the situation now cardinally young mother is not able to - all these changes are natural. Someone to stabilize the state takes several months, someone - a few weeks. It is important to remember that this is a temporary situation caused by physiological causes. And blame yourself for nothing!
Almost everyone knows about the birth of children. A huge number of books, magazines and websites tells about childbirth. Most pregnant women build in their head a certain ideal scenario, according to which the delivery will take place. But life sometimes surprises. The mood for a positive outcome is certainly very important. But at the same time, many women do not want to accept a possible other outcome of events. And if something goes wrong - painful contractions, birth weakness, caesarean section - the ideal plan collapses before our eyes. After a difficult birth, a woman first of all begins to blame herself for not having managed, instead of helping her baby settle in this world, still alien to him.
Life after the birth of the baby is another subject of pink fantasies. During pregnancy, many women form ideas about the future of family life. How a little angel will smile at you, comfortably settling in his crib. However, in reality, an angel because of the constant colic may more resemble a devil, calming only in your arms. In addition, crying angrily, if you are not around. On the grandiose physiological restructuring, the impossibility of combining the desired with the real one is also superimposed. And if in the usual situation, many of us are able to cope with their emotions, then in the case of doubled stress, a woman can become deeply depressed.
If you contact a specialist, the first step is a blood test. It is necessary in order to exclude the factor of insufficient activity of the thyroid gland. After this, a woman will be referred for counseling to a psychologist, who may prescribe medication or group psychotherapy courses. According to doctors, in the case of psychological depression after childbirth, the latter is the most effective. However, experts believe that the lion's share of the success of the fight against postpartum depression depends on the woman herself. If you feel that something is going wrong with you, it is important to understand that this is a temporary phenomenon, and try not to wind yourself again. If you understand the situation correctly, you can try to cope with depression yourself.
In order to avoid depression, try to find ways of quick self-healing that are suitable for you during pregnancy. It can be 15 minutes of daytime sleep, meditation, a set of special exercises, aromatherapy or herbal medicine. It is important that before you appear in your baby's life you have mastered them in perfection. Accept your condition as a reality. What we experience is neither good nor bad - it is an objective reality. Depression after childbirth is a natural condition, although it does not appear at all, and it will necessarily pass.
Do not seek to return to your old life immediately after birth. Try at least for a time to devote himself entirely to the baby. Having established a strong connection with the newborn in the first months of his life, you will soon begin to receive a solid "dividend": a quiet baby, communication with which will give you many joyful minutes. Also find a new circle of communication. Your childless friends can
do not understand your problems, and your beloved husband is not always able to enter your position. The best option is young mothers who face the same problems as you. Even if you can not get advice from them, you will know that you are not alone.
Try to eat right. Include more fruits and vegetables in the diet. It should not immediately after the birth of the child sit on rigid diets. This you only harm yourself. Be sure to think about your rest. Try to find time to take a bath to make up and go somewhere without a child. If this is not possible, go along with the child to where you want to go. For example, in a cafe or shop.
By the way, this problem is not new. Our ancestors also faced with it and found their ways of helping. After delivery, the young mother was surrounded by care and support from close relatives of the female. According to Old Russian customs, next to the woman who had just given birth, the midwife was for several weeks. She helped her with housework, she taught me how to take care of a baby. And the main tasks of the young mother became breastfeeding and emotional communication with the baby. During this time the woman got used to the new status. Now the ritual of entering a new role is limited to a few days in the maternity home. Then the woman returns to the "big world" and tries to reconcile her former way of life with new responsibilities. For obvious reasons, it's not all good to combine one with another. In addition, some mothers believe that only they are responsible for the child. These women are included in daily cares at the limit of their physical and mental strength. Often the results of such labor exploits are the reduction of self-esteem, the appearance of feelings of helplessness. If during this period to deprive her of support, then the problem of depression can affect a woman fully.
If the beginning of your life together with the kid turned out to be unsuccessful, mobilize all your strengths and "reduce the distance" between yourself and the child. Think about the baby. He, in fact, also experienced the stress of birth and passed with you through all this pain. And only you can soften the first of his experiences from childbirth. The child, as never before, needs your help and support. Gymnastics and massage, made by your hands, most bring you closer to the baby. It is these means that paediatricians in the UK derive from the depressed state of newly-born mothers. Do not forget to rest with your baby during the day. Especially calms the fact that if a child sleeps 15-20 minutes on your hands. It is better, if at the same time you will contact the baby with "skin to skin". This will contribute to the formation of your mutual affection.
Start a diary of a young mother, write down all the child's successes, your impressions and your feelings for him. It will be useful for you sometimes to re-read it, experiencing pleasant moments anew. Go to the diary and photo album, fixing on the film cute and touching moments of your family life. This will help you focus more attention on joyful moments.
Connect to the family affairs of the pope. Come up with new family traditions and rituals. In addition, in the eyes of a loved one you will find a gracious listener, who will be able to tell not only about your feelings, but also about what your kid is wonderful and talented.
And remember that even with an infant in your arms you can lead a very active lifestyle, enriching the monotony of everyday life with new impressions. To do this, you need to get comfortable clothes for yourself, a capacious bag and the means for carrying the baby, for example, a sling. Believe me, these tips are tested by life and will help moms, dads and the child to cope with depression after childbirth.