By Lynne Reiner, RN, OSF Saint Francis Family Birthing Center
Having a baby is supposed to be a happy time. However, 50 to 75 percent of new mothers experience postpartum blues due to hormone changes and the adjustment to a new role. Postpartum blues most commonly begin three to five days after birth and can be described as mild depression interspersed with happiness due to the birth. Usually postpartum blues occurs within the first two weeks after the birth. Mothers often become moody and tearful with no apparent cause. Mothers are often tired, in pain from the delivery, and are anxious about caring for their baby properly. Postpartum blues is normal and not preventable. Letting the mother know this is a normal process, allowing for rest, and assisting her with care of herself and the infant are all very important steps in supporting the new mother.
How to tell if the postpartum blues are becoming postpartum depression can depend on the timeline of when the event occurs and how the mother is doing. Postpartum depression can last from the birth up to six months or longer. Mothers with postpartum depression often lose interest in caring for herself and the baby. Frequent crying, change in sleep patterns, feelings of worthlessness, or living in a “fog” may be signs that the mother needs to seek medical attention. Often the change in the mother’s emotions becomes apparent in the first month after the birth.
To help evaluate if the mother may need medication or therapy to help with the postpartum depression, all new mothers are asked to complete a postpartum depression scoring tool at every obstetrician visit and every baby visit for the first year of the infant’s life, or one year past the date of the birth. The scoring tool commonly used is called the Edinburgh scoring tool. The mother rates her feelings for the last seven days.
Here is an example of a question:
Have I felt happy?
a) Yes, all the time
b) Yes, most of the time. This would mean: “I have felt happy most of the time” during the past week.
c) No, not very often
d) No, not at all
Scores will indicate that a mother is doing fine or will be a warning sign that the mother needs to be evaluated for depression. Or there may be a more worrisome score where a mother needs to be kept safe and immediate physician assessment should occur.
Follow up appointments with medical doctors for both the baby and the new mother are essential in keeping both safe and healthy. Plan your pregnancy and post-delivery experience by deciding prior to delivery who your baby’s pediatrician is going to be. Safety is essential in making this the best experience in your life and enjoying this special time. Often the support and care of the family, significant others, and friends can make a huge impact on the well-being of both the mother and the infant. Reinforcing the joy and happiness in this life experience is essential and invigorating for everyone that knows the new family.
If you have questions or feel you or someone close to you may be at risk of post partum depression, please reach out to your doctor before or after giving birth. A self-assessment is also available at http://bit.ly/osfpostpartum, but please follow up with your doctor if you have any concerns.