{"id":2083,"date":"2017-03-14T14:40:01","date_gmt":"2017-03-14T14:40:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/depressionhelp\/?p=2083"},"modified":"2018-07-04T02:17:19","modified_gmt":"2018-07-04T02:17:19","slug":"postpartum-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/depressionhelp\/2017\/03\/postpartum-depression.html","title":{"rendered":"Postpartum Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"postpartum<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s natural for new parents to experience mood swings. These feelings are sometimes known as the ‘baby blues’ and go away soon after birth. But some parents may experience a deep and ongoing depression that lasts much longer. That’s called postpartum depression.<\/p>\n

What is postpartum depression?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Postpartum depression is depression that starts during pregnancy or at any time up to a year after the birth of a child. Postpartum depression can affect anyone.\u00a0Although it\u2019s more commonly reported by mothers,\u00a0it can affect any new parent\u2014both moms and\u00a0dads\u2014and it can affect parents who adopt.<\/p>\n

A mother or father with postpartum depression\u00a0may not enjoy the baby and have frequent\u00a0thoughts that they\u2019re a bad parent. They may also\u00a0have thoughts about harming themselves or\u00a0their baby. Although it\u2019s rare for a parent to make\u00a0plans to act on these thoughts, this situation is\u00a0serious and requires urgent medical care.<\/p>\n

Postpartum depression is likely caused by many\u00a0different factors that work together, including family\u00a0history, biology, personality, life experiences, and\u00a0the environment (especially sleep deprivation).<\/p>\n

Counselling and support<\/b><\/h3>\n

A type of counselling called cognitive-behavioural\u00a0therapy (or \u2018CBT\u2019) is a common treatment for\u00a0postpartum depression. It may be the first\u00a0treatment to try for mild or moderate symptoms.\u00a0CBT teaches you how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours work together. It also teaches important\u00a0skills like problem-solving, realistic thinking, stress\u00a0management, and relaxation. Another type of\u00a0counselling called interpersonal psychotherapy\u00a0may also help. It focuses on relationships and\u00a0can help people adjust to changing roles in their\u00a0relationships.<\/p>\n

Support groups are also very important.\u00a0Postpartum depression and new parenthood can\u00a0both isolate you from others, and isolation can add\u00a0to feelings of depression. Support groups are a\u00a0safe place to share your experiences, learn from\u00a0others, and connect with other parents who have\u00a0similar experiences and understand what you\u2019re\u00a0going through.<\/p>\n

How can I help\u00a0a person suffering postpartum depression?<\/b><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s important to realize that postpartum depression\u00a0is no one\u2019s fault. Here are some tips on supporting a loved one\u00a0who experiences postpartum depression:<\/p>\n