Postpartum depression isnt always postpartum. It isnt even always depression. Depression often begins during pregnancy and can develop any time in the 1st year after a baby is born. Studies suggest 1 in 5 women develop symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or a combination. Predicting who might develop these illnesses is difficult. Sometimes cases are mild and resolve without treatment, but 1/2 of the 1 out of 5 will have serious symptoms. A combination of genes, stress, and hormones causes maternal mental illness. During pregnancy, the hormones go up 100 times, then after pregnancy, hormones plummet like a roller coaster that can disrupt brain chemistry. Depression in pregnancy can be missed because symptoms like trouble sleeping and moodiness also occur in pregnant women who are not depressed.
Posted on: Thu, 19 Jun 2014 13:48:37 +0000
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