Post-Partum Depression ?
Q: Post-partum depression is a severe form of "baby blues," mild sadness
and anxiety that some two-thirds of new mothers experience. A few new
moms -- one in 1000 -- suffer a complete break with reality, post-partum
psychosis. That's what happened in 1984 to Nancy Berchtold, of
Morrisville, Pa., after the birth of her daughter, Alison. Seventeen
days post-partum, she became delusional, and had to be hospitalized.
A:Post-partum depression has been recognized since ancient times. In 460
B.C., Hippocrates described it. Other descriptions have turned up from
time to time since then. But the condition has become widely publicized
only within the past 15 years.
The cause of all the post-partum emotional reactions remains unclear,
but scientists cite several contributing factors. One is stress. "As a
new mother, I felt overwhelmed," recalls Jane Honikman, founder of
Post-Partum Support International (see Resources at the end of this
article). "The first year with each of my three children was very hard.
I was exhausted and sleep-deprived. Add a colicky baby, or a lack of
emotional support, and you have a one-way ticket to the blues."
Motherhood is most disorienting for first-time moms. Not surprisingly,
they are at unusually high risk of post-partum emotional problems.
Hormones also play a role. High levels of female sex hormones circulate
in expectant mothers' blood, but drop precipitously within hours of
delivery, contributing to biochemical depression. Pregnancy also
increases levels of endorphins, the body's feel-good chemicals.
Endorphin levels fall abruptly after delivery, adding to risk of
depression.
Finally, a history of depression increases risk. One-third of women with
previous depression experience it post-partum, Dr. Parry says, and half
of women who become depressed after one delivery relapse after
subsequent births.
To treat mild baby blues and more severe depression, Honikman recommends
joining a mothers' group. Renshoe attended a new-mothers' support group
three times a month for six months. "It was so reassuring to know that
other women were experiencing what I was going through." After Nancy
Berchtold overcame her post-partum psychosis, she couldn't find a
support group. She placed a newspaper ad,