Postpartum Depression Symptoms and Where to Get Help for Depression During Pregnancy

If You Don’t Feel Yourself, You Could have Postpartum Depression

Depression, especially when it’s affected by pregnancy, can be so insidious. It creeps in and you just brush it off as “I’m just stressed right now,” or “My body is growing a baby or recovering from it.”

And after a while, you accept irritability, sadness, anxiety or exhaustion as parts of your life as a parent.

But these symptoms are not normal.

Feeling constantly overwhelmed, irritable or sad is not a normal part of pregnancy or caring for a baby. It can be depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression, and you can get help.

We talked with Dr. Susan Hicks, OB/GYN, of University of Michigan Health – West, to discuss some of the symptoms of perinatal mood disorders and how you can reach out for help.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms and When to Seek Help

“The most important thing I stress to my patients is that postpartum depression is a real illness and it can be treated. I also tell them the symptoms are not a sign of personal weakness, it’s not their fault and it’s nothing to be ashamed of,” shares Dr. Hicks.

As your body, mind and routines change post-baby, you may be flooded with odd feelings of sadness or emptiness. Or you may wonder why you don’t seem to have any significant emotions at all.

During those first two weeks after baby is born, those feelings are common. Some refer to it as the baby blues, and it’s a natural reaction as you adjust to life with a newborn.

However, there are signs, symptoms and feelings that signal a more serious concern: postpartum depression.

“One out of seven moms, and one out of 10 dads, develop postpartum depression or perinatal mood anxiety disorder,” says Dr. Hicks.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, beyond two weeks postpartum, Dr. Hicks says it’s time to talk with your physician.

Postpartum depression becomes a more serious concern when patients experience a combination of these red flag symptoms. If you or a loved one is experiencing these serious symptoms, please reach out for help.

How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last? – It Really Ranges

You can get hit with a perinatal mood disorder even when your kids is 2. It doesn’t just happen to moms with newborns.

I know a Grand Rapids mom who developed it when her second child was 14 months old. She never even had it with her first. Another was diagnosed when her daughter was 21 months old (“delayed onset triggered from weaning”). I had depression during pregnancy for all three of mine but it went away the moment my babies were born.

Postpartum depression doesn’t magically go away when your child is a certain age, unfortunately. It’s different for every woman, so it’s critical that you seek help when you experience it.

PPD falls under a wide spectrum of what are considered perinatal mood disorders. This is a period of time that reaches as far back as pregnancy (prenatal depression), the first year postpartum, and as late as the weaning period (which can be anywhere from birth to three years).

Overall, that is an almost four year stretch of time where the ever shifting hormones and other physiological changes can make a mom more susceptible to PPD and other perinatal mood disorders.

Coping Strategies for Postpartum Depression or Depression During Pregnancy

Dr. Hicks remembers a patient who felt like she was in a cloud and couldn’t get out of it. It was hard to get up in the morning, and she was losing interest in caring for her baby. That patient scored a 12 on the Edinburgh Scale.

“In that particular case, we talked it through and discussed the coping strategies that would benefit her most.”

Dr. Hicks emphasizes that there are many different treatments and coping strategies available to new moms and dads now.

And remember, everyone is different, so what worked for your friend may not work for you. Try different strategies until you find the ones that help.

Where to Turn for Help with Postpartum Depression in Grand Rapids

If you are experiencing extreme anxiety, irritability, sadness, or any other significant mood change during pregnancy and the post-partum period, please reach out for help. There are organizations around West Michigan equipped to help you through this time.

Talk to your spouse or partner. Talk to your doctor. Reach out to a friend. Ask for help. Call one of these places. The doctors at U M Health-West have referred patients to these organizations.

If you know of others, please let us know in the comments!