Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a disorder that occurs in women after giving birth to a child. Symptoms of the disorder may include: sluggishness, fatigue, exhaustion, sadness, depression, hopelessness, appetite and sleep disturbances, memory loss, over concern for the baby, uncontrollable crying, lack of interest in the baby, fears of harming the baby or self, and decreased libido. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and often leave the women feeling bewildered. Some women may feel very anxious and show symptoms such as: intense anxiety and/or feat, rapid breathing, fast heart rates, a sense of doom, hot or cold flashes, chest pain, shaking and dizziness.(www.counciling.org) It is important to get a complete medical evaluation, including a thyroid screening to rule out any physical causes if you are having a number of these symptoms because these symptoms can imitate a physical ailment as well. The word postpartum means "after birth," and postpartum illnesses are those conditions that can cause changes in the mood of the mother after the birth of a child. There are several factors that can contribute to the horde of new feelings the mother will be encountering after the birth of her new child: reduced
This depression felt by the mother can have great effects on her child. We all know that the mother's relationship with the child is vital to the mental and physical health of the baby. Anything that interferes with the critical process of bonding will have a detrimental effect. Depression only makes the mother less able to respond to the needs of the infant. A mother who is depressed or anxious will not be as sensitive to her baby as a mother who is not depressed. A mother who is depressed will show less affection toward her baby, will be less attentive and responsive to the baby's sues, and may even demonstrate hostile actions toward the baby. A mother who is depressed or anxious will not be as attuned to the baby. We all know that babies pick up cues from their parents and imitate them. A mother who is suffering from these postpartum illnesses will express more negative cues like frowning or other unhappy expressions. As a result, the baby will learn a more restricted range of emotional expressions. It is difficult to predict the effect the illness will have on the child itself due to the numerous contributing factors: the severity of her illness, its duration, the number of people involved with the child itself, and the child's temperament. If a mother is suffering from postpartum depression, the rest of the family can be effected. They too are having feelings of confusion and concern about you and your baby. Some relatives tend to downplay the problem or point blame at the mother, which only makes treatment harder. Family members can also recognize the problem faster then than the new mother and can inform her of her depression, but their lack of knowledge about postpartum mood disorders may keep them from realizing that this is a real problem that requires treatment to avoid any tragic consequenc
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1225
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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