EMBRACE YOUR BUNDLE OF JOY

For some mothers, the postpartum phase can be a roller-coaster ride instead of a period of joy and calm. Kalwyna Rathod sheds some light on how prioritising mental health can help with postpartum depression

- Kalwyna Rathod

Pregnancy and childbirth are phases that usher positivity and happiness into a woman's life.

However, there are elements that deprive new mothers of such joys, one of them being postpartum depression (PPD). This condition can deeply affect the mental and physical wellbeing of a new mother and change the course of early parenting for the infant.

Dr Sahana K P, consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist with Apollo Hospitals, Bengaluru, says that untreated postpartum depression can lead to chronic depressive disorders. Moreover, children born to these mothers can develop behavioural and emotional problems, eating issues, language development delays, and sleep disorders in childhood.

“Studies indicate that the incidence of postpartum depression ranges between 19 to 22% in India. An approximate 10 million cases are reported annually. More than 50% cases go undiagnosed due to the stigma associated with mental health in motherhood.”

Understanding Postpartum Depression

A major depressive episode that begins within four weeks after delivery is classified as postpartum depression. Vastly, it comprises of postpartum blues (baby blues), moderate postpartum depression, which, if left untreated, can worsen and progress to severe postpartum depression with suicidal tendencies.

Risk factors associated with PPD include:

■ Young new mothers with a personal history of depression or psychiatric illness

■ Negative attitude towards the baby or the baby's gender (often seen in women who bear female children)