What happens if postpartum depression goes untreated

Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks. But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.

Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth. Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby. Signs and symptoms of baby blues — which last only a few days to a week or two after your baby is born — may include:.

Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the signs and symptoms are more intense and last longer, and may eventually interfere with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. With postpartum psychosis — a rare condition that typically develops within the first week after delivery — the signs and symptoms are severe. Signs and symptoms may include:. Postpartum psychosis may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment.

New fathers can experience postpartum depression, too. Fathers who are young, have a history of depression, experience relationship problems or are struggling financially are most at risk of postpartum depression.

If you're a new father and are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety during your partner's pregnancy or in the first year after your child's birth, talk to your health care professional. Similar treatments and supports provided to mothers with postpartum depression can be beneficial in treating postpartum depression in fathers. If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it.

But if you experience any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, call your doctor and schedule an appointment. If you have symptoms that suggest you may have postpartum psychosis, get help immediately. It's important to call your doctor as soon as possible if the signs and symptoms of depression have any of these features:.

If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in taking care of your baby and call or your local emergency assistance number to get help. People with depression may not recognize or acknowledge that they're depressed. They may not be aware of signs and symptoms of depression. If you suspect that a friend or loved one has postpartum depression or is developing postpartum psychosis, help them seek medical attention immediately.

Don't wait and hope for improvement. There's no single cause of postpartum depression, but physical and emotional issues may play a role. Any new mom can experience postpartum depression and it can develop after the birth of any child, not just the first. However, your risk increases if:. Left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause family problems.

In the first 24 hours after childbirth, hormone levels quickly drop back to normal, pre-pregnancy levels. Researchers think this sudden change in hormone levels may lead to depression. Levels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth.

The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps regulate how your body uses and stores energy from food. Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause symptoms of depression.

A simple blood test can tell whether this condition is causing your symptoms. If so, your doctor can prescribe thyroid medicine. These feelings are common among new mothers. But postpartum depression is a serious health condition and can be treated. Postpartum depression is not a regular or expected part of being a new mother.

You may be more at risk of postpartum depression if you: 3. The U. Many women have the baby blues in the days after childbirth. If you have the baby blues, you may:. The baby blues usually go away in 3 to 5 days after they start. The symptoms of postpartum depression last longer and are more severe.

Postpartum depression usually begins within the first month after childbirth, but it can begin during pregnancy or for up to a year after birth. Postpartum psychosis is rare. It happens in up to 4 new mothers out of every 1, births. It usually begins in the first 2 weeks after childbirth. It is a medical emergency. Women who have bipolar disorder or another mental health condition called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk of postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include:.

Ask your partner or a loved one to call for you if necessary. Your doctor, nurse, or midwife can ask you questions to test for depression.

They can also refer you to a mental health professional for help and treatment. Here are some ways to begin feeling better or getting more rest, in addition to talking to a health care professional:.

It can also help to have a partner, a friend, or another caregiver who can help take care of the baby while you are depressed. Tell a loved one and call your doctor right away. There are different types of medicines for postpartum depression. All of them must be prescribed by your doctor or nurse. The most common type is antidepressants.

Antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of depression and some can be taken while you're breastfeeding. Antidepressants may take several weeks to start working. The Food and Drug Administration FDA has also approved a medicine called brexanolone to treat postpartum depression in adult women.

Because of the risk of side effects, this medicine can only be given in a clinic or office while you are under the care of a doctor or nurse. Brexanolone may not be safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding. Another type of medicine called esketamine can treat depression and is given as a nasal nose spray in a doctor's office or clinic. Esketamine can hurt an unborn baby.

You should not take esketamine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. These treatments can be used alone or together. Talk with your doctor or nurse about the benefits and risks of taking medicine to treat depression when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Having depression can affect your baby. Getting treatment is important for you and your baby. Taking medicines for depression or going to therapy does not make you a bad mother or a failure. World Mental Health Day 10 October. World Mental Awareness Month 1 - 31 October. Click here. Administrated by Lynn Norton. Read more.

Click here for more information. If you are interested in starting a Support Group, please contact Krystle on 21 22 A book called Surfacing, in which Marion Scher has sat down with a number of South Africans to share their stories of their personal struggles with mental health issues. Want to know more? You are here: Home Contact Us. Contact A Counsellor. MindfulMondays with Miss SA.