Postpartum Depression - Research Paper Example

The paper will then investigate the effects of postpartum depression to the children born by affected mothers and the treatment modalities available to such children and their mothers. Introduction Postpartum Depression (PPD) also called postnatal depression refers to serious illness that affects women during the first three months after delivery or miscarriage (PubMed Health, 2010). Postpartum depression can make the victim women feel very hopeless, sad and worthless within the society. Postpartum depression can is troublous in nature as it affects the bonding between the child and the mother.

In severe circumstances, postpartum depression develops to a more serious condition called postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis can make the affected mother behave in very strange manner, hear or see things that do not exist. Victim women can also become threat and harmful to their own lives and those of their children. Effective treatment of the postpartum condition is possible when pursued during its early stages. Causes of Postpartum Depression According to WebMD (2012), changes in the level of hormones occurring especially after pregnancy are among the causes of the postpartum depression.

All women are susceptible to postpartum depression, especially during few months after miscarriage, childbirth or stillbirth. Rapid hormonal changes coupled with high blood pressure, metabolism and deprived immune system as common among the first mothers can also trigger postpartum depression. Murray and Cooper (1997) reveal that there are also other non-hormonal causes of postpartum depression. Previous cases of depression are one of the non-hormonal causes of postpartum depression. Poor relationships with the partner, family and friends that can lead to stress are yet another cause of depression.

Stress coupled with caring of the baby can also cause this kind of depression. Such stress results from anxiousness and feeling of being overpowered by the responsibility of caring for the particular baby. These cases are usually prevalent among women who happen to be bearing first children in their life. Postpartum depression can also develop in women who did not plan pregnancy or developed mixed reactions towards the pregnancy. Stresses associated with financial problems can also make one catch postpartum depression.

In addition, postpartum depression can also result if the individual victim has a relative who had depression or anxiety. Alcoholism and addiction to drugs before birth is another cause of postpartum depression among the victim woman. Symptoms of Postpartum Depression Symptoms of postpartum depression among women include sadness, anxiousness and hopelessness. Victim women also have low self esteem characterized by lose of pleasure in every task accomplished. In addition, victim women have low appetite and rarely feel hungry, and may also indicate drastic loss of weight (WebMD, 2012).

Some women may also feel very hungry and can at times gain weight. Furthermore, victim women may also encounter sleeping problem and have problem with concentration. Moreover, victim women may develop negative feelings towards their particular babies. As observed by PubMed Health (2010), postpartum depression may also witness individual women suffer from suicidal thoughts, worthlessness and urge to die. Additionally, victim women get easily agitated and irritated, and can be tempted to act recklessly and cause severe