More than just baby blues
10 to15% of new moms will develop the disorder although it is often neglected because doctors and healthcare professionals do not recognise it unless it is extremely severe.
The bond between mother and child at birth is thought to be automatic.
However, the birth of a mother may not happen at the birth of a child.
Postnatal depression (PND) is a mood disorder characterised by an irritable, severely depressed mood, that occurs in women in the months following childbirth.
10 to 15% of new moms will develop the disorder although it is often neglected because doctors and healthcare professionals do not recognise it unless it is extremely severe.
A United Kingdom trained counselling psychologist Tamara Zanella, emphasised the distinct difference between PND and the “Baby Blues” which is very common following the birth of a baby, with approximately 85% of women at risk.
It occurs within the first two weeks after delivery and are characterised by mood symptoms of lability, tearfulness, anxiety and sleep.
There is no specific treatment required for the baby blues as the symptoms resolve themselves within about 10 days.
According to Zanella, signs of PND include crying spells, insomnia, depressed mood, fatigue, anxiety, and poor concentration which may be mild, moderate, or severe.
Evidence suggests that anyone can suffer from PND and it does not affect any specific race or ethnic class to more or less of a degree.
“There are certain risk factors such as Socio Economic Status (SES) which appears to indicate that those with a lower SES are less likely to be diagnosed and receive treatment and support for PND,” said Zanella.
“Psychological and biological/genetic factors including social circumstances have an impact on the new parent and can cause PND.”
Other risk factors include:
- History of depression
- Stressful life events
- Marital dissatisfaction
- Child care stress
- Inadequate social supports
- Difficult infant temperament
- Low self-esteem
- Unwanted or unplanned pregnancy
- Being single
An article in the South African Medical Journal reported an estimate of 2 000 abandoned babies each year.
“There is frequently little understanding and even less empathy for women involved or the reasons why they may engage in this devastating act of putting the life of an innocent newborn in such danger,” explained Zanella.
“When we explore the psychological state of the women, in some cases PND may be an important factor in the actions of these moms as it takes a lot for a mother to abandon her baby.”
Zanella gives practical scenarios that would lead to such action:
- The woman’s culture is against a birth of a baby outside marriage. This will result in the mother struggling to live with the baby because of fear that her own family may abandon her.
- The mom may feel incapable of loving the baby and struggle to bond and feel connected with their baby so the woman may feel “defective” as a mother.
- A mother might abandon her baby due to domestic violence, drug addictions, or fear of rejection from her partners.
- Research suggests that young mothers may hide or deny their pregnancy. When the baby is born, the distressed and overwhelmed individual temporarily disconnects from reality, choosing to abandon her child as the only option to cope with a confusing and challenging situation.
The stigma related to depression is no different with PND.
“It can be even more difficult to talk about because of societal expectations placed on a new mother about ‘the joys of being a mother’ and often the reality of a newborn does not match this notion”, she said.
Zanella urges healthcare professionals to be on the lookout for PND and moms to educate themselves about the disorder to be able to spot the symptoms.
She recommends the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) as an effective screening tool.
“It’s not a diagnostic tool but is effective at screening for risk of PND and moms can do the scale themselves,” Zenella explained.
“If they score 13 or more then it is highly recommended that they speak to a healthcare professional.”
If you cannot talk to any of your healthcare providers, you can contact the Postnatal Depression Support Association (PNDSA) on 082 882 0072 (or send a message and an assistant will call you back) or see the website www.pndsa.org.za for further information and resources.
