Gynecological inflammation Urethritis is a common disease in clinical practice is divided into acute and chronic, non-specific urethritis and gonococcal urethritis, urethritis symptoms similar to the latter two must be according to history and bacteriological examination to be identified. For the performance of urethritis should be aware of the major non-specific urethritis pathogen E. coli, streptococcus and staphylococcus, usually have a mixed infection.

Gynecological inflammation in acute urethritis were burning urination, urethral pain, urinary frequency and urgency of the performance such as urethritis, re-urethral spasms can occur. Urine check pus cell and red blood cells. Chronic urethritis Urethral discharge gradually reduced, or only the first urination in the early morning when

Can be seen in the urethra with a small amount of serous secretion. This is the description for the performance of urethritis. Urinary irritation symptoms than in the acute phase significantly, some patients may be asymptomatic. Urethritis can be directly spread to the bladder or the prostate causing cystitis. For the performance of urethritis, urethritis patients should be aware that the healing process, fibrosis may be caused by urethral stricture.

Gynecological inflammation urethritis symptoms of burning urination, urethral pain, urinary frequency and urgency, as well as difficulties in urinating. The performance of a chronic urethritis urethritis urethral secretions decrease, with only itching, or ant-line flu, urinary irritation than in the acute phase significantly, for the performance of urethritis, some patients are asymptomatic. Symptoms of acute urethritis in the male patients there are more urinary tract secretions, mucous began gradually becomes purulent, for the performance of urethritis, urethral secretions in the female patients were rare.

By the above brief introduction, we have urethritis symptoms of gynecological inflammation what is the performance of a certain understanding of the female gynecologic future prevention and treatment of urethritis inflammation plays a positive role, a female friend were in the above-mentioned women, urethritis in performance, it is recommended to the hospital in time to inspect, identify the cause so that the future can take a targeted treatment for the early troubles get rid of urethritis.

Painless artificial abortion should pay attention to what is

High development of modern medicine, abortion more and more types of surgery.

From the most traditional of abortion now developed into a painless abortion.

It can be said to many unwanted pregnancies, female friends has brought the Gospel. After all, no education, but also the kinds of passenger operations, they still should pay attention to something, painless artificial abortion should pay attention to what? Gynecological experts should pay attention to the following points:

1, painless abortion 14 days after that rest, not to do hard physical labor, bed rest is best suitable.

2, eat more nutritious food, the body back to normal as soon as possible. After 7-10 days is usually not eat cold, 30 days, do not eat spicy food.

3, generally 3 to 5 days vaginal bleeding gradually stopped, no more than 10 to 15 days. If fever, abdominal pain or vaginal discharge with odor, vaginal bleeding in excess of menstrual blood, duration is too long, and timely to the hospital.

4,2 weeks or vaginal bleeding is not clean, not to Bath before.

5,30 days, not to have sex to avoid infection.

6, maintain genital hygiene, a daily cleaning with warm water 1 to 2 times, Changing sanitary napkins.

7, after the resumption of sexual activity, contraceptive measures should be taken to prevent further pregnancies.

   1.-Law relationship is not, and the

Mother-and daughter relationship, and everyone must face the problem, but there is only light to heavy. On sub-period, the woman’s physical and psychological is very fragile, this time a small number of very small and very ordinary dispute, and make her feel intolerable. In the original is not a very harmonious mother-and daughter relationship, also to analyze who is right, but in such a great time, right or wrong seems to have is not very important. Better to leave everything right and wrong scores, first through this extraordinary period then we’ll talk!, Of course, does not mean that a woman gave birth to a child is very great, what must be her first, regardless of right or wrong should let her. This is only based on facts only.

         2. For children to have sex discrimination

Nine months of pregnancy, but also hard work gave birth to him (her), who knows himself or herself, far from the original hope, feeling a sudden fall to the bottom, anxiety, apprehension, depressed, upset, and so a lot of emotion in his heart writhed, and post-natal Depression also slowly move closer to the ……

3. For the daily necessities vexed issue of

Now price increases, what are your child was born, because the anxiety the child’s milk powder, diapers, nutritional supplements and other support costs of the mother suffering from postpartum depression a lot of people. Coupled with the reliability of various types of food are now too low, an inattentive to this formula that nutritional supplements can cause problems, after the pre-thought thought, After much thought, fearing the fear that, a moment’s inattention and a person becomes irritable, irritability. This is the basic symptoms of postpartum depression.
4. Did not do a good job ‘mother’ mentally prepared

There are many such cases, the couple had not intended to have children, but inadvertently to pregnant. Moreover, for various reasons, he can not do. In this case, although the decision to the child, but he came to a sudden, people come unprepared, especially the children’s mother. This time taking advantage of pregnant mothers during pregnancy, if they can be properly prepare to receive soon a mother in this unexpected situation, then I think, we should still have time for. However, some months the decision has been doing no less than mothers who used the entire pre-pregnancy period of hesitation in the end whether or not to leave this child, to the late pregnancy to worry about ‘doing a good job of this in the absence of prenatal and postnatal care of children under the premise of there’ does not there will be flaws. In this way, do not give myself a little room to make their own digest ‘to become a mother of’ this fact. Therefore, a child is born after the panic unending novice mother, the face of the child’s crying, in the face after all the trivial and had children, will suffer from ‘post-natal depression’ would not be surprised!

5. Mind not yet mature

For a while married, but his mind is not too mature, but also need someone to take care of the woman who may have risk of postpartum depression is much more than mature women. Why? One himself like a child, who is also, how can we accept the role of a sudden conversion, immediately becomes a handy all-embracing skilled mother? Either because they could not accept such a role reversal, or afraid that they could not do a good mother, they can become very favorable conditions for post-natal depression.
3. Love temper, love of Shengmen Qi’s

Some women would have loved to Shengmen Qi, love of rounds of small temper, failing when you can not have a sober reflection, but just talks to the dead end fall in.. This woman on what is coming across yard unhappy things, so feel oppressed in the environment, not depression, then people still wonder why. In the final analysis, or with the character. So, sometimes men also need to know a little of this disease, if their homes have such character, wife, the wife became pregnant do not stimulate her, and try to down her personality to change is not an easy task, but if the production On this crucial moment, after the child got post-natal depression, then a little trouble.

6. Husband and wife is not feeling good

Some couples had feelings of not very good, but for some reason have to live together, this time do not listen to others, or the experience of the elders, trying to use their children to break this impasse between husband and wife. I think it should first think of ways to improve the marital relationship, thickening of the feelings between husband and wife, and then consider the matter to have children, otherwise, just the opposite, then to adults, the children are a kind of hurt.

If there is such a couple, pinning our hopes on their kids, parents with children, the right relationship between husband and wife, and do not help, but because the child a result of the continued deterioration of the relationship between husband and wife. So-called look forward to greater disappointment, which improved marital relationship illusions to try to regulate marital relations with a child for people who really will be very depressed, not to mention just going through a test, hardships of Health the child of a woman, in such a mood of extreme adverse circumstances, is very easy to suffer from postpartum depression.

7. On a bad sleep yard

Many Mummy day and night, for his own kids can easily lead to grievances, irritability, irritable mood, even on a busy night and the loneliness of the morning, give rise to resentment of her husband and the innocent baby.

Studies suggest that post-partum due to the body’s progesterone and estrogen plummeted due to the end of pregnancy may be on your emotions, mental activity have a huge impact. Post-exertion of their own health concerns, child rearing concerns of the family’s dissatisfaction as well as individual psychological qualities can be the incentive for the onset of postpartum depression. Many mothers have postpartum mood changes may occur, most people will naturally return to normal, very few people need a doctor’s help to recover.

Postpartum depression affects not only the mother’s recovery, but also for the life of the future have a certain influence. Therefore, we should actively prevent from various aspects.

First, the mother should set aside our ideological baggage. The medical profession that some of the post-natal depression is in the reasons for maternal character, or around any doubts. So, sometimes occur due to visit her husband when the words properly, the people around them do not intend to stimulate conversation caused by maternal self-blame, suspicious, leading to post-natal depression.

Second, we should eliminate unnecessary concerns. Some of maternal newborn physiological jaundice because they themselves are not child-rearing experience, afraid of his family he did not complain of depression boy, etc. occur. In fact, neonatal jaundice, birth to a boy or a girl are very normal, as there is no child care experience, you can also ask experts to resolve. Maternity he did not worry.

Finally, the mother’s family, especially her husband to be more concerned about their psychological changes. Pairs of maternal and newborn care and concern, you can reduce the burden of maternal mental and avoid the occurrence of postpartum depression.

Of course, if has occurred post-partum depression, should be restored in the body after the relevant departments in time to the hospital to seek help.

The study concluded that early maternal postpartum depression was higher than 10% of the developed countries, studies have shown that postnatal depression on infant growth and development are affected, but very little relevant data in developing countries.

Researchers 37 have postpartum depression of mothers and 134 babies born to non-postpartum depression, mothers of infants born to a comparative study, at 6 weeks postpartum and 6 months of age, detection of the baby’s growth and development of . The results show that removal of the other factors (such as birth weight and mother’s educational level), the mother of infant depression occurs in the 6-month weight and height less than the risk of inadequate control group were 2.3 times and 2.9 times . Development of low-scoring ratio of 44%, while the control group was only 20%.

The researchers noted that depression in mothers of infants less interest in breast-feeding rate is low, so the proportion of milk and feeding alternatives to increase, leading to infant growth and bad. In addition, the mother will also affect the poor baby’s emotional growth and development.

Studies have shown that 50-75% of women will be with the child’s birth through a period of “Baby blues”, the majority of women, signs of obvious or a little twinkling of an eye, and passed away, character and emotions rise to a period of instability, such as Mo’s crying, or state of mind due to good.

10-15% of new mothers in this case becomes very strong, its attribution is a disease, which is the latest recognized by the medical profession, and is specifically termed “postpartum depression” disease.

The following are several risk factors, is apt to cause postpartum depression:

* Marriage

* During pregnancy, depression, anxiety

* The lack of social security

* The pressure of life during pregnancy or negative events, such as death of family members and relatives far away, moved to a new place, who have experienced post-partum

Moods of depression or confusion.

* Birth of the traumatic experience

* Discharged from hospital earlier

* A history of premenstrual syndrome

Hormone:

* During pregnancy, female hormones estrogen and progesterone increase 10 times. After giving birth, hormone levels rapidly decreased rapidly within 72 hours to reach its previous level. Some studies show that post-partum period to quickly lower the hormone levels and depressive symptoms related to.

Pressure:

* For a new mother, the children brought great joy and excitement. No new mother can fully take into account the heavy work and take care of the baby. Period of time after a child is born, often filled with excitement, but then may be disappointed, and then that is felt incompetent as a mother must complete the challenge.

Past mood disorder:

* Previous history of depression may increase women’s risk of postpartum depression. Research shows that 1 / 3 has a history of depression in the postpartum period for women suffering from heavy.

How do we recognize postpartum depression

“Baby blues” is different from the post-natal depression. It will gradually subside in a few weeks or disappear. “Baby blues” usually occurs in the first week after birth, the new mother may feel sad, mood swings and fatigue. These cases would normally be interpreted as with the birth of a child caused by depression, it can heal.

Postpartum depression, although the majority of women after the birth of the child will have mood swings for some time, but some women are more serious, will become very manic and can not control the daily life and behavior. Postpartum depression occurs in the first year after birth, if not given treatment, will be extended up to eight years.

Sadness, anxiety, emotional instability, irritability. Whether the above symptoms there is a line with your post-natal conditions? If so, state your suffering from a common post-natal disease, meaning that post-natal depression, also known as post-natal depression.

Incidence of postpartum depression after giving birth on, hence the name. In fact post-natal depression and general depression, and there is no essential difference. The performance of postpartum depression varied, it was incorporated into three types:

1, the third day of depression: The patient is often the beginning of maternal morbidity in the birth within three days, symptoms of mild, mainly manifested as depression, anxiety, insomnia, loss of appetite, irritability, inability to concentrate, persistent symptoms can be a few days later self-mitigation.

2, endogenous depression: onset was within 2 weeks after birth, showed excitement, depression, anxiety, helplessness, hopelessness, the most ill, worrying not keep a live born child, serious worry about a child in the world suffer arising from acts of infanticide, and then committed suicide.

3, nervous depression: the majority of maternal past history of neuropathy, after giving birth increased the original negative emotional experience, physical discomfort, emotional instability, easy temper, restless sleep, and so on.

Postpartum depression in general after the birth of a child occurred within a few weeks, generally a week or less. Postpartum depression and postpartum may be related to changes in hormone levels. Furthermore, excessive stress, physical fatigue, lack of sleep, physical discomfort, as well as their dissatisfaction with the status quo, lack of care and support of others, for this new role as mothers and fresh produce fear and other psychological issues are also an important reason leading to post-natal depression.

Most of this disease people are ordinary people, they have a certain sense of responsibility and ability, but the post-partum depression so that they feel powerless, but also that they have unrealistic demands. However, most patients with symptoms of postpartum depression is not very obvious, not easy to be perceived, it will not seriously affect the care of the baby or doing housework. If the symptoms of postpartum depression is very obvious, and can cause enough attention to other people around, then your problem may be more serious.

For most patients, symptoms of postpartum depression will disappear naturally over time, everything back to normal. Following these recommendations can help you safely through a period of post-natal depression.

· Accept other people’s help, or take the initiative to seek the help of others.

· In infant sleep, the mother try to rest or nap.

· And her husband went out to eat dinner or watching movies, so try to relax physically and mentally. And friends dinner chat.

· Not to mention their own to ask too much, to reduce their expectations.

· Own feelings and feelings to her husband, family, and friends to talk.

· Chat with other new mothers to talk about their feelings.

· Physically active (if the doctor allows it).

· Learn to sleep when the baby allowing oneself to relax – reading, bathing, watching DVD, or other point of interest you find things to do.

· Adhere to a healthy, regular diet.

Although postpartum depression is very common – according to some experts estimate that about 50% to 90% of women will suffer from varying degrees of postpartum depression – but some serious self-healing does not need expert help. Some mothers even quickly developed into post-partum psychosis, so if a mother found to have serious symptoms of postpartum depression must be suggested that she go to counseling and treatment of psychological experts.

Severe symptoms of postpartum depression

If you find the following serious symptoms of postpartum depression, be sure to seek help immediately to specialists and treatment.

· Depressive symptoms, severe interference with daily life and can not be baby-sitting.

· Feeling extremely tired and severe insomnia.

· Feeling of hopelessness and helplessness.

· Feel lost, there is no power, for themselves and their families lose interest.

· Have the impulse to want to hurt the baby or do not want baby-sitting.

· Suicidal tendencies.

Symptoms of depression during pregnancy

If the period of time (at least two weeks) there are 4 kinds or more of the following symptoms, then you may have been suffering from depression during pregnancy. If one or both of a recent particularly troubling you, you must draw your attention.

- Can not concentrate

- Anxiety

- Extreme irritability

- Sleep well

- Very easy fatigue, or persistent fatigue

- Constantly want to eat something, or there is no loss of appetite

- Interested in nothing, always mention the spirit can not afford to

- Continued depressed, cry

- Mood swings and large, moody

Leading causes of depression during pregnancy

The body during pregnancy, significant changes in hormone levels can affect brain neurotransmitters regulate mood changes. You probably six to 10 weeks of pregnancy when the initial experience of these changes, and then when your body starts to prepare for the birth, it will once again experience these changes. Hormones will make you feel anxious more easily than ever before, so when you start to feel more anxiety and depression than ever before, we should pay attention to remind ourselves that these are normal reactions during pregnancy in order to avoid this pain and disappointment into unable to extricate themselves.

Others may easily lead to depression during pregnancy incentives include: a family or personal history of depression. If your family or you yourself have had depression history, then when you are pregnant, the more prone to depression during pregnancy; interpersonal problems, which is also suffering of women during pregnancy and postpartum depression pregnancy one of the main If you and your spouse tension, and is no longer on their own solve the problem, it is best to look for relevant experts for consultation. Many people think that if the child is born, the couple’s problems will be solved, in fact, the arrival of a child, will only increase the pressure on the relationship between husband and wife, and only through consultation, to find the appropriate way to solve the problem of the active means.

Susceptible group of pregnant women with depression during pregnancy

Pregnancy itself has a certain risk pregnant women

Some cases, more complicated or dangerous, requiring long-term bed rest home, or conducted a number of genetic tests during pregnancy (such as twins or multiple births), pregnant women would much mental and physical torture. On the one hand they have to endure the physical pain of pregnancy, on the other but also fear for their results, so this type of pregnant women more vulnerable to depression during pregnancy distress should be special attention.

Pregnancy by means of drugs to pregnant women

If the past trend of infertility, and by taking drugs to make themselves pregnant in the medication process, you must spend months and years to endure because of drug side-effects caused by endocrine disharmony, and will lead to emotional instability, once pregnant, they will face hardships for the event were to lose the fetus concerns and fears, this crowd is also vulnerable to suffer from depression during pregnancy.

Pregnant women who had abortions experience

If you have experienced in the past have had abortions, then the pregnancy may be safe for the fetus to worry about. If the last pregnancy, abortion and this soon afterwards, or have multiple abortions in a year’s experience, then your body may not completely recover from the last abortion, in the mental and physical are relatively fragile, and thus more likely to develop during pregnancy depression.

There are significant changes in the life of pregnant women

Are you in order to better meet the new baby’s arrival for a larger homes? Because of pregnancy and other reasons or if you experience difficulties at work? During pregnancy, any major life changes such as moving, divorce, unemployment, loss of friends and relatives and so likely to make you into a depression during pregnancy.

Have had bitter experience of pregnant women

Pregnancy may trigger previously experienced by pregnant women for the emotional, sexual, physical or verbal abuse of the painful memories. At this point the changes in your body is not you will have control of, such physical changes caused by a sense of loss of control, it may make you recall when they felt ill-treatment out of control, and make you long depression not Huan.

How to deal with depression during pregnancy?

As far as possible to relax himself

That you want to give up the baby was born before that all the RBI thoughtful ideas. You might think you should lose no time to find a good post-natal health care workers, to the room to a clean-up, or on maternity leave before the end of the work at hand done, but in fact you are listed in front of a lot of things to do should be added solemnly, as it is to treat themselves. Once a child is born, you will never not have enough time to take care of your own. So when you when you were pregnant should try to look at novels, eating delicious breakfast in bed, to walk in the woods, try to do more things that will make you feel happy. Take good care of yourself, nurture a healthy and lovely baby is the most important prerequisite.

Lot of communication with your spouse

Ensure that sufficient time each day and spouses together, and maintain intimate exchanges. If the body permits, can be considered along with vacation, you can do to make your relationship had been reinforced, so that when a child was born, you will have strong backing, you can rest assured that rely on.

Express your feelings

To your wife and friends tell you the fear and worry for the future, easily and clearly tell them how you feel, when you are in an extraordinary period of pregnancy, you need to love and friends, emotional support, but only when they understand the all your feelings, they can give you what you want comfort.

And pressure to the fight against

Do not let your life is full of frustration. From time to time to adjust your mood. Take a deep breath, full of sleep, exercise, attention to nutrition. If you still feel anxious from time to time, you can consider participating in exercise during pregnancy yoga classes, this ancient and moderate exercise can help pregnant women maintain a stable mind.

Active treatment

If you have made efforts, but the situation is still not improve, or you find yourself are not competent enough to work and live day to day, or have the urge to hurt themselves and others, then you should immediately seek medical help, under the guidance of a doctor taking a number of right itself and the fetus does not have side effects of antidepressant drugs can also ask your doctor to recommend you a medical expert in this area, or psychiatric treatment experts, so as to avoid the delay condition to give themselves and their negative consequences for the fetus. Some pregnant women afraid to see a psychiatrist, arguing that it would itself with mental illness Guashang Gou, in fact, do not worry, you can rationally and objectively, as it is to ensure that you and the baby taken to a health and safety measures necessary.

The partying, the strip-club photo ops, the head shaving—none of that spoke to the experience of Poulin, who battled the disorder after the birth of her daughter, or to those of the women she interviewed for her book, The Mother-to-Mother Postpartum Depression Support Book.

“If she has the energy to party, that is very suspect to me that she in any way would have postpartum depression,” says Poulin, who endured months of anxiety-driven sleepless nights.

But then Poulin did the math: Spears’ youngest son, Jayden James, was born six months ago last September; postpartum depression is often diagnosed four to six months after the birth of a child.

“That’s when it hits the hardest, because you are not sleeping well, and you really are not well,” Poulin says. “People often think it’s immediate, it hits you right away—no way.”

According to Postpartum Support International, a California-based support and advocacy group, one in eight women will experience overwhelming helplessness, sadness or even anxiety after giving birth.

Brooke Shields and Marie Osmond belong to this not-at-all-exclusive club. Insiders in Spears’ camp suggest she does, too.

Postpartum-depression experts don’t disagree.

“I think it could definitely be a factor,” says Susan Dowd Stone, a licensed clinical social worker and president of Postpartum Support International. “Quite frankly, I don’t see how it could not be a factor.”

“It isn’t, ‘Wow, isn’t it weird Britney Spears had postpartum depression?’ It’s, ‘Well, that’s what was going on.’ ”

To Stone, Spears’ acting out is in sync with a postpartum-disorder diagnosis, as well as potentially tied to classic risk factors such as marital problems and substance abuse.

Spears filed for divorce from husband Kevin Federline last November, en route to notching headlines for coast-to-coast clubbing, collapsing and vomiting.

“People think of depression as being in bed all day, or crying all day,” Stone says. “But in manic states, [women] can engage in risk-taking behavior.”

On Friday, and barring an early discharge, the 25-year-old Spears will mark her first full week in Promises, a Malibu clinic renowned for its alcohol- and drug-treatment programs.

Spears’ camp has not expressly said what ails the singer—although paparazzi shots of Spears attending a not so anonymous Alcoholic Anonymous meeting on Wednesday night left a little less to the imagination.

Though short on public pronouncements, Spears’ insiders are talking up reporters—and talking up postpartum depression, even if some incidents, such as her 55-hour marriage to Jason Allen Alexander, occurred prior to either of her pregnancies.

A source close to Federline told Tina Dirmann of E! Online’s Planet Gossip show that Spears was “never the same after she had their kids,” sons Jayden James and one-year-old Sean Preston.

“Even after the first baby, she had wild mood swings and her temper would go off at the drop of a hat,” the source said. “After she came home the second time, she just seemed really unhappy all of the time.”

If Spears has a postpartum disorder, Poulin says, it’s possible she doesn’t, or didn’t, know it.

“A lot of these mothers,” Poulin says, “they look back and go, ‘What was I doing, what was I thinking?’ ”

Spears is also getting support from one of the most public faces of postpartum, Shields. The actress and model, who documented her own bout following the birth of first daughter, Rowan Francis, in the book Down Came the Rain, tells Access Hollywood, “If she wants to talk to someone, I’m available.”

Katherine Stone (no relation to Susan Down Stone) is an Atlanta-based mother of two who suffered obsessive-compulsive thoughts following the birth of her eldest child. On her blog, Postpartum Progress, the online discussion has begun to include Spears and whether her behavior is linked to what even the hairstylist who finished off the singer’s infamous buzz cut labeled “hormonal.”

“A lot of people have said, you know, I was wondering that myself,” the blogger/writer says.

Watching Spears from the outside, Katherine Stone sees a woman who went from appearing, in photographs anyway, to be very close to her first child, to not being anywhere near either child following the latest birth.

“When you’re suffering from postpartum depression, you really have this crushing fear you should never be a mother,” Katherine Stone says. “That you just can’t do it…Some mothers will pull away.”

Add public scrutiny to the mix, and, well, actually don’t add public scrutiny to the mix…

“It’s hard enough for people to come forward and admit it [a mood disorder] because of our society’s view of mental illness,” Katherine Stone says. “I can’t imagine being Britney Spears.”

Medication and therapy helped Katherine Stone along a yearlong road to recovery. For Sandra Poulin, it took 18 months, medication and the invaluable introduction of a fulltime nanny.

Susan Dowd Stone says the prognosis is excellent for any woman suffering from a postpartum disorder, provided the problem is diagnosed and treated.

“If she’s got this,” Poulin says of Spears, “I hope she will get help.

“I hope Britney’s okay. That’s all I can say. Everybody hopes she’s okay.”

The rapid hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy and delivery may trigger depression. After childbirth, women experience a big drop in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. Thyroid levels can also drop, which leads to fatigue and depression. These hormone dips—along with the changes in blood pressure, immune system functioning, and metabolism that new mothers experience—can all play a part in postpartum depression. It has been theorized that women who are more sensitive to these hormone imbalances develop postpartum depression.

Women who have just given birth are also dealing with numerous changes, both physical and emotional. They may still be coping with physical pain from the pregnancy and delivery. They may also have difficulties losing the baby weight, leading to insecurities about their physical and sexual attractiveness. In addition to changes to their body, they are also dealing with lifestyle changes. The lifestyle adjustment can be particularly difficult for first time moms, who must get used to an entirely new identity. The stress of caring for a newborn can also take a toll. New mothers are often sleep deprived. In addition, they may feel overwhelmed and anxious about their ability to properly care for their baby. All of these factors can contribute to and trigger postpartum depression.
Risk factors

Women with a previous history of depression are at an increased risk of experiencing postpartum depression. Your risk is also elevated if you have a history of severe PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, if the pregnancy was unplanned, or if you had postpartum depression following a previous pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, women with a prior history of postpartum depression have a 50% chance of recurrence.

Stressful events during pregnancy or birth also increase the odds of developing postpartum depression. Stressful events might include a difficult delivery, prenatal problems, premature birth, or illness during pregnancy. Finally, research has shown that women with marital difficulties or a general lack of social support have a greater chance of developing postpartum depression.

If you’ve recently given birth and have one or more of these risk factors, it is especially important to be on the lookout for any signs or symptoms of postpartum depression.

What causes postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression seems to be brought on by the changes in hormone levels that occur after pregnancy. Any woman can get postpartum depression in the months after childbirth, miscarriage, or stillbirth.

You have a greater chance of getting postpartum depression if:

    * You’ve had depression or postpartum depression before.
    * You have poor support from your partner, friends, or family.
    * You have a sick or colicky baby.
    * You have a lot of other stress in your life.

You are more likely to get postpartum psychosis if you or someone in your family has bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression).
What are the symptoms?

A woman who has postpartum depression may:

    * Feel very sad, hopeless, and empty. Some women also may feel anxious.
    * Lose pleasure in everyday things.
    * Not feel hungry and may lose weight. (But some women feel more hungry and gain weight).
    * Have trouble sleeping.
    * Not be able to concentrate.

These symptoms can occur in the first day or two after the birth. Or they can follow the symptoms of the baby blues after a couple of weeks.

If you think you might have postpartum depression, fill out this postpartum depression checklist (What is a PDF document?) . Take it with you when you see your doctor.

A woman who has postpartum psychosis may feel cut off from her baby. She may see and hear things that aren’t there. Any woman who has postpartum depression can have fleeting thoughts of suicide or of harming her baby. But a woman with postpartum psychosis may feel like she has to act on these thoughts.
Who is at risk of postpartum depression?
Although experts estimate that about 1 in 10 women suffer from some level of postpartum depression — and 1 in 1,000 from postpartum psychosis — it’s still relatively misunderstood, and the exact cause of it isn’t known. Some say that a combination of factors might be to blame — or that certain factors are correlated with a greater predisposition to PPD:

history of hormonal or thyroid imbalances
 

exhaustion
 

overwhelming home or work conditions (including death in family, job change or layoff or a move)
 

personal or family history of depression, PPD or other mental problems
 

unrealistic expectations (including tendencies toward perfectionism)
 

physical problems following delivery
 

baby who is sick, colicky or has other problems
 

little or no support from spouse, family members or friends
 

isolation
 

personal or family history of abuse, physical or emotional abandonment, and/or neglect

Postpartum depression is a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth. It also can happen after miscarriage and stillbirth.

Postpartum depression can make you feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless. You may have trouble caring for and bonding with your baby.

Postpartum depression is not the “baby blues,” which many women have in the first couple of weeks after childbirth. With the blues, you may have trouble sleeping and feel moody, teary, and overwhelmed. You may have these feelings along with being happy about your baby. But the “baby blues” usually go away within a couple of weeks. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months.

In rare cases, a woman may have a severe form of depression called postpartum psychosis. She may act strangely, see or hear things that aren’t there, and be a danger to herself and her baby. This is an emergency, because it can quickly get worse and put her or others in danger.

It’s very important to get treatment for depression. The sooner you get treated, the sooner you’ll feel better and enjoy your baby.

Signs and symptoms of postpartum depression

In the beginning, postpartum depression can look like the normal baby blues. In fact, they share many symptoms, including mood swings, crying jags, sadness, insomnia, and irritability. However, in postpartum depression, these symptoms are either longer lasting or more severe. Anxiety is also more prominent in postpartum depression. If you have postpartum depression, you may worry to excess over your baby’s health and well-being. In addition to obsessing over the safety of your newborn, you may be troubled by intrusive thoughts about harming your baby.
What is postpartum depression?

The blues:  Many new parents experience “the blues” shortly after arrival of a new baby. Symptoms might include crying jags, irritability, erratic sleep (outside of the demands of a new baby), anxiety and moodiness. The blues come quickly, and they typically go away quickly.

Postpartum Depression:   Postpartum depression isn’t fleeting. Symptoms often don’t appear until several months after delivery (thereby contributing to lack of diagnosis). They can include some or all of the following: exhaustion, sadness, hopelessness, confusion, memory loss, uncontrollable crying, lack of interest in the baby (or obsession with the baby), feelings of being overwhelmed, feelings of guilt and inadequacy, fear of harming yourself or the baby, resurgence of past emotional issues. See your doctor for help in treating your symptoms (and if these or other symptoms are interfering with your ability to care for yourself and/or the baby, seek immediate medical help).

Postpartum Psychosis:   Postpartum psychosis is much more rare, but it’s an emergency and requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms usually appear within the first two weeks after delivery, and might include some or all of the following: severe agitation, hyperactivity, bizarre feelings and behavior, aggressive and/or suicidal tendencies, delusions, paranoia, confusion, hallucinations, severe insomnia.

Remember that 1) symptoms and severity vary from woman to woman, 2) you don’t have to be a danger to yourself or your baby to be suffering from postpartum depression, and 3) a new mom who’s had other children still can suffer from postpartum depression.