Cause Of Postpartum Depression
Kerri-Ann Mirander
CRJ 202I
July 30, 2014
Professor McCabe
This article is about a young mother that tried to drown her newborn baby in a lake in Miramar, FL. As a mother it breaks my heart; as a counselor I understand (kind of). The mother stays that she was and is still suffering from postpartum Depression this is an illness that mothers go through after giving birth. The exact causes of postpartum depression are unknown. Changes in hormone levels during and after pregnancy may affect a woman’s mood. Many non-hormonal factors may also affect mood during this period:
• Changes in your body from pregnancy and delivery
• Changes in work and social relationships
• Having less time and freedom for yourself
• Lack of sleep
• Worries about your …show more content…
What bothers me about that statistic is that it holds no meaning for most people, and because of that I think these illnesses get much less funding and attention than so many of the other prevalent illnesses that strike Americans. As a result, I decided to do a bit of quick, non-scientific research to look at the real numbers and to help people understand the real impact that postpartum depression is having on the women of our country. There were approximately 4.3 million live births in the United States in 2007. This statistic does not include fetal losses, including miscarriages and stillbirths. The National Vital Statistics Report indicates that the total number of clinically recognized pregnancies is around 6.4 million. This is important to know, because all postpartum women are susceptible to postpartum depression, regardless of the pregnancy’s outcome. So let’s split the difference between the high (20%) and low estimates of PPD (11%) and say that an average of 15% of all postpartum women in the US suffer, as the CDC reported in its 2008 PRAMS research. And let’s use the number of clinically recognized pregnancies and not live births. This would mean that each year approximately 950,000 women are suffering with postpartum …show more content…
Many women who have PPD may need medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety agents to help them function in daily life and prevent any complications of PPD. Breastfeeding women should inform their doctor so he or she can help them make the appropriate choice. Individual therapy can do wonders to help a women with PPD accept that having this disorder does not make her a bad mother or bad wife. Additionally, she can learn ways to reduce stress and handle the challenges she faces. Group therapy can allow women to connect with others who are struggling with similar challenges so that each can grow, learn, and heal. Family therapy will help loved ones and family members learn how they can help and support her during recovery. This combination of therapeutic approaches can do wonders to help a woman struggling with PPD return to her new baby and family with renewed feelings of happiness, joy, and hope for the
CRJ 202I
July 30, 2014
Professor McCabe
This article is about a young mother that tried to drown her newborn baby in a lake in Miramar, FL. As a mother it breaks my heart; as a counselor I understand (kind of). The mother stays that she was and is still suffering from postpartum Depression this is an illness that mothers go through after giving birth. The exact causes of postpartum depression are unknown. Changes in hormone levels during and after pregnancy may affect a woman’s mood. Many non-hormonal factors may also affect mood during this period:
• Changes in your body from pregnancy and delivery
• Changes in work and social relationships
• Having less time and freedom for yourself
• Lack of sleep
• Worries about your …show more content…
What bothers me about that statistic is that it holds no meaning for most people, and because of that I think these illnesses get much less funding and attention than so many of the other prevalent illnesses that strike Americans. As a result, I decided to do a bit of quick, non-scientific research to look at the real numbers and to help people understand the real impact that postpartum depression is having on the women of our country. There were approximately 4.3 million live births in the United States in 2007. This statistic does not include fetal losses, including miscarriages and stillbirths. The National Vital Statistics Report indicates that the total number of clinically recognized pregnancies is around 6.4 million. This is important to know, because all postpartum women are susceptible to postpartum depression, regardless of the pregnancy’s outcome. So let’s split the difference between the high (20%) and low estimates of PPD (11%) and say that an average of 15% of all postpartum women in the US suffer, as the CDC reported in its 2008 PRAMS research. And let’s use the number of clinically recognized pregnancies and not live births. This would mean that each year approximately 950,000 women are suffering with postpartum …show more content…
Many women who have PPD may need medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety agents to help them function in daily life and prevent any complications of PPD. Breastfeeding women should inform their doctor so he or she can help them make the appropriate choice. Individual therapy can do wonders to help a women with PPD accept that having this disorder does not make her a bad mother or bad wife. Additionally, she can learn ways to reduce stress and handle the challenges she faces. Group therapy can allow women to connect with others who are struggling with similar challenges so that each can grow, learn, and heal. Family therapy will help loved ones and family members learn how they can help and support her during recovery. This combination of therapeutic approaches can do wonders to help a woman struggling with PPD return to her new baby and family with renewed feelings of happiness, joy, and hope for the