Deciphering Three Forms of Fatal Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a grave illness that could crop up in the initial few months subsequent to child delivery, miscarriage and still birth. Postpartum depression could lead to undesirable feelings of worthlessness, desperation and sadness that could cause major hindrance in caring for and developing a bond with the baby.

Postpartum blues – This form of PPD is known to heighten near the fourth day following childbirth and settles in fewer than two weeks when hormonal fluctuations have subsided. There are more than half of the women populace that face transitory mild versions of depressive tendencies coalesced with happy feelings following the birth of a child.

It is a usual occurrence in the initial few days after delivery for postpartum women to experience some degree of sleeplessness, irritation, weepiness, sense of being overwhelmed and mood fluctuations. It is imperative to inform one’s doctor regarding the presence of any signs of postpartum blues during the check-up.

Postpartum Depression or PPD – Postpartum depression symptoms might be a continuum of postpartum blues that could feel like a further or escalated version than before. PPD could additionally occur in months following delivery or loss of a child. In certain situations, the symptoms intensify following months of gradual build up. The probable symptoms of PPD need assessment by a doctor. In case of those having PPD, one would exhibit five or more symptoms inclusive of one from the initial two stated below, for periods lasting for most parts of the past two weeks, inclusive of:

• Depressive mood swings, weepiness, sense of despondency, feeling a sense of void within that might at times be accompanied by chronic anxiety.
• Lowered pleasure in major facets of routine life and activities.
• Variations in appetite and weight that could either surge or plummet.
• Difficulties in sleeping despite the baby having fallen asleep.
• Conspicuous alterations in one’s walk and speech – generally restiveness, but at times listlessness.
• Chronic fatigue or sapped energy levels.
• Sense of triviality or feeling guilty for no apparent legitimate reason.
• Concentration problems and difficulty in the decision-making process.
• Suicidal or death thought process. Some cases of women with PPD have ephemeral, morbid thoughts of inflicting harm to their babies – such thoughts have a tendency to be petrifying instead of raw urges to instil damage.

Postpartum psychosis – This chronic condition is more prevalent in women having bipolar disorder or a past of postpartum psychosis. Symptoms that normally develop in the initial three weeks after delivery, even as early as one to two days after delivery that could include:

• Feeling distant from the baby and the overall scenario also known as depersonalization.
• Sleep disturbances in spite of the baby being asleep.
• Extreme confusion, disarray and scattered thinking that raise the threat of inflicting harm to oneself, the baby or others.
• Drastic mood fluctuations and weird behaviour.
• Feeling extremely agitated or restiveness.
• Abnormal phantasm, mostly relating to all the senses.
• Apparitional thinking that is far from reality.

Postpartum psychosis is deemed a red alert necessitating prompt medical attention. If left untreated one is laying one’s life and the baby’s life in major jeopardy.

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