Welcome everyone and pull up a seat at the table. It’s Lunchtime in Rome. Tonight’s episode 204 entitled “Postpartum Depression”
Tonight we welcome Emily Tappe to The Table. She will be helping us understand how to recognize and survive postpartum depression through her very own experience. We are very blessed by her courage and willingness to share.
Pull up a seat at the table and join us!
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is feeling so sad and hopeless that you can't do your normal activities. It starts during the weeks and months after having a baby.
It’s common to feel sad or miserable in the first few days after giving birth—these feelings are normal and usually go away within 2 weeks
Postpartum depression is a more serious mood change that lasts for weeks or months
You have trouble doing daily activities and may lose interest in your baby
About 1 in 10 women gets postpartum depression
It can happen even if you never had depression before
If untreated, postpartum depression can last for months or years
Doctors treat postpartum depression with antidepressants and therapy
Go to the hospital right away if you're thinking of suicide or having violent thoughts, such as hurting your baby.
What causes postpartum depression?
Many women have no risk factors. But you’re more likely to get postpartum depression if you:
Have depression before or during pregnancy—tell your doctor if you had depression before you got pregnant
Had postpartum depression in a previous pregnancy
Have sadness or depression during your period or while taking birth control
Have family members who have depression
Are stressed by things like money or marriage problems
Lack support from a partner or family members
Had problems related to your pregnancy, such as an early delivery or a baby with birth defects
Weren't sure you wanted a baby (for example, the pregnancy was unplanned)
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
Common symptoms:
Extreme sadness
Crying
Mood swings
Getting irritated easily
Not being interested in your baby
You may also have:
Extreme tiredness
Changes in sleep, such as sleeping too much or too little
Anxiety or panic attacks
Difficulty doing daily activities, such as showering
Worrying too much about your baby without good reason
Feeling hopeless or not good enough
Feeling guilty about any of these feelings
When should I go to the doctor for postpartum depression?
You should see your doctor if:
You feel sad and have trouble doing your usual activities for more than 2 weeks after your baby is born
You have thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby
Friends and family have noticed you seem to be depressed or having a hard time coping with things
Postpartum Depression | Episode 204