Frequency distribution

The frequency distribution of postpartum depression is about 10-15% of all mothers and even 4-10% of fathers. These can have developed the depression either in the context of their own wife’s depression or on their own, without the woman being affected. In contrast, the frequency of baby blues is significantly increased. About 25-50% of all mothers show a short-lasting low mood immediately after delivery, which does not require any treatment.

Symptoms

Basically, the most common symptoms of postpartum depression are similar to those of birth-independent depression. Affected women often feel a lack of drive and energy, which can lead to a general lack of interest. Family, friends and the own child lose importance for the mother and are hardly noticed by some.

Others, on the other hand, feel excessive anxiety and concern for the well-being of their newborn child, which leads to them caring for him like a doll and making him physically lack for nothing. In this case, however, the lack of a personal bond between mother and child is a problem, as affected mothers often fail to develop stable, loving feelings for their child. Constantly prevailing doubts about the own maternal ability as well as the worry to make fatal errors as a mother opposite the child limit any developing love.The lack of a good relationship between child and mother creates a feeling of sadness and joylessness, which makes it even more difficult for the mother to take a step towards the child.

How long does postpartum depression last?

A postpartum depression lasts, like depression not related to pregnancy, for several weeks, usually months. At some point, a depression is usually completely over without treatment. Due to its duration over months, however, it is an extremely agonizing time for those affected without treatment.

For this reason, it is essential to think about starting a (psychotherapeutic and/or drug therapy) at the beginning of the illness. Most affected women are aware that they cannot be there enough for their newborn at the moment, which creates a feeling of worthlessness and guilt. In addition, some physical symptoms also occur, such as feelings of numbness, heart problems, trembling and sexual unwillingness, which can even trigger disagreements in the partnership.

In many cases, the onset of postpartum depression is not recognized in time, because the typical initial symptoms are rather unremarkable. Thus, headaches, dizziness, concentration and sleep disturbances as well as enormous irritability can be the first signs of beginning postpartum depression. However, early diagnosis is of not negligible importance.

If it remains undetected and untreated for a long time, it is possible that even suicidal thoughts in the sense of suicide or infanticide (infanticide) may arise. The therapy of a depressive disorder after delivery depends on the severity of the depression. If only the so-called baby blues is present, no drug or psychotherapeutic therapy is necessary.

This is a low mood that lasts for 1-7 days, but which improves of its own accord. Women with baby blues can be supported by calming conversations in which they can talk about their fears and worries and a strategy for coping with everyday life is worked out together. In addition, the employment of a child care worker or housekeeper is recommended to keep the mother’s stress as low as possible.

However, the support of the partner and/or the father of the child is particularly important. If the depression lasts longer than 2-3 weeks, it should be treated to avoid long-term consequences (severe postpartum depression). In particularly severe cases where there is a risk of suicide or infanticide, the mother and child will usually be considered for hospitalization.

In this way the mother can be taken out of her everyday life and optimally relieved. Antidepressants can be prescribed for frequently occurring symptoms such as anxiety, anxiety and sleep disorders. By treating sleep disorders, these lead to a more restful sleep, which gives the women more energy to cope with everyday life.

Furthermore, psychotherapeutic sessions are often offered for mother and father. In this way they are given the opportunity to work through any family problems that may exist and thus be able to better adjust to the new life situation with child. Many affected women also attend self-help groups where they get to know others who are similarly affected.

Here the feeling of being understood is especially strong. In small groups, tips are exchanged on how to cope better with everyday life and how stress situations can be mastered most easily. Homeopathy is not designed to treat depression effectively.

This requires a trained doctor (psychiatrist) or psychologist. Only in the case of slight mood swings or frequent mood swings that do not reach the severity of a depression, homeopathic remedies can be used if the person concerned wishes to do so. These remedies include, for example, dried seeds from Ignatia beans, metallic gold (Aurum metallicum), common salt (Natrium muriaticum), lime (Causticum), pasque flower (Pulsatilla pretensis), leaves of the poison oak (Rhus toxicodendron), white bryony (Bryonia alba), calcium carbonicum, dried ink sac contents (Sepia officinalis), cinchona bark (China officinalis), rue noble rue (Ruta graveolens) and the nux vomica.

In postpartum depression, the same drugs are used as in depression that has occurred independently of pregnancy.So the drug group of antidepressants is used. The limiting factor in postpartum depression is above all the fact that many antidepressants partly pass into the mother’s milk, so that if these drugs were taken, breastfeeding would no longer be possible. However, there are also antidepressants that can be taken almost without hesitation during breastfeeding.

These include, for example, some active ingredients from the group of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Active ingredients from this group that can also be taken while breastfeeding are sertraline and possibly also citalopram. However, some infants with citalopram therapy of the mother showed symptoms such as restlessness or drowsiness so that the infants should be observed closely during the therapy. Also drugs from the group of tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline can be used during breastfeeding. In general, however, a psychiatrist should always be consulted when deciding on therapy, as factors other than those mentioned also play a role in the selection of the right antidepressant.