Emotional changes in the postpartum period
Article published by Elena de Iracheta and Dr. Isabel Rodríguez Piñero, psychologist and gynecologist, respectively, of the Women's Unit of the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid.
The emotional changes that occur in the postpartum They are usually temporary, but they affect many women in the first few weeks after giving birth. In general, They prevent women from enjoying their motherhood, as they create feelings of guilt. The fact is that women are unable to express what's happening to them; it's a "taboo" subject that's frowned upon because motherhood is supposed to be all about happiness. For this reason, women carry it with them and barely talk about what's happening to them; it makes them feel "ashamed."
negative influences
– «The ideal mother»
– «The perfect family»
– «The woman who can do everything».
Act quickly. demystify all of themNobody is perfect. Motherhood is an adaptation, and as such, it's normal to feel "different" and make mistakes.
Associated factors
- Psychiatric history Previous: A history of depression increases the incidence of these disorders by 10%-24%. If they have been diagnosed with depression during pregnancy, the incidence increases even more (35%).
- Sociodemographic Factors: very early age or late age, pre-pregnancy infertility factors, history of multiple miscarriages, etc.
The three most common emotional disorders in the postpartum period
1- Mild postpartum depression, Also called 'Maternity Blues'This is a mild, usually transient syndrome that can affect between 20% and 80% of mothers. It usually occurs two to four days after delivery and disappears without after-effects in about two weeks. Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, irritability, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness, and so on. It is considered more of a process of "adapting to the new situation" experienced by the mother. It is important to monitor the symptoms to ensure they do not worsen.
2- Major postpartum depression: Onset occurs between two and three weeks after birth, with an incidence of 5% to 22%. Symptoms include melancholic depression, strong feelings of guilt, inability to care for the baby, ambivalent feelings of love or hate toward the baby, laziness, memory loss, intense anxiety, panic, rapid heart rate, sleep and feeding problems, and extreme sadness.
3- postpartum psychosis: in this case it is immediate medical action is necessaryIt is an acute and severe disorder that occurs in 1-2 cases out of every 60 births. It appears suddenly between the third and ninth day, but can also appear later (around the XNUMXth month of a baby's life). It presents with emotional lability, severe agitation, confusion, disorganized thinking, hallucinations, and physical damage.
How can we help mothers with these emotional changes?
On Maternity Blues or mild postpartum depressionIf the patient so requests, she should attend therapy with a specialist in pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum, where she will receive support and information. In this mild case, she will need support in her adaptation.
In postpartum major depression Specific pharmacological therapy combined with specialized psychological therapy will be necessary. If there is a history of this, it would be important to consider having the patient take medication before delivery to prevent more serious conditions.
In postpartum psychosis, the only option is drug treatment and even hospitalization.
– An important aspect that we must highlight in this topic is the mother/doctor/gynecologist communication, who should ask her during her postpartum check-up how she is feeling, how she is adapting, and insist if we observe behaviors that make us suspicious, precisely because it is not an easy subject for the mother (sometimes it is the partner who gives us that information).
– A, sometimes the "emotional hyperreactivity" What the mother will feel during the postpartum period No. It is not a negative symptom, but it will help you "put yourself in the baby's shoes," understanding and responding appropriately to his or her constant demands.
– The postpartum period is, in general, a very vulnerable period for women and her new role in that "mother-son" dyad.
– A is necessary emotional support, family and social.
- It is very important and necessary to give visibility at this moment, normalize This new stage of women's new role as mothers, with all that this entails.
- During pregnancy, emotional changes already occur. During childbirth, the woman is prepared to: physically separate from her baby (they are no longer one), and adapt to the real baby (not the one they imagined during pregnancy) and its needs (which are many).
- And after giving birth, the woman has to be emotionally prepared to experience pleasant things and others that are not so pleasant, but that are "normal," such as feeling "strange" about being with the baby, adapting to her real baby, learning to enjoy discomfort (sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, etc.).
- The woman has to be like that adapting to the new role of mother, to the change in their own body, family and social image.
– Importance of the "mother-child attachment": This dyad we are talking about is made up of the behaviour of both, but the mother's behaviour is much more important and active: she has to be available almost constantly for the baby (this can overwhelm her), she has to accept and assume that she is "tied" to the baby and she has to be able to cover all her needs, she has to be "sensitive", which is the sum of all the above (being available, accepting her new role).
All of the above, from a normal perspective, every change in our lives requires a process of adaptation, of ups and downs in mood, and even more so in this complex process such as motherhood.
Related articles
If you found this article interesting and would like to be seen by a professional expert in Gynecology and Obstetrics, the Women's Unit at Ruber International Hospital has a specialized unit in this area. You can request more information by calling 917303673. make an appointment for an in-person consultation Or make an appointment for an online consultation if you prefer remote consultations—always with the best specialists.