How Normal is Postpartum Depression?

During pregnancy a lot of attention is placed on Mom, but then as soon as baby is born the attention goes away. To make sure that Mom is still doing okay, it's important to pay attention to her overall physical, mental, and emotional health.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is where you can feel sad and depressed on a consistent basis, you may stop liking things that you usually enjoy. Postpartum depression is different from baby blues which is normal.

What Can Mothers Do to Help with Postpartum Depression?

During the postpartum time, mothers still need to try to eat healthy and to get enough sleep when they can. One way to help yourself is by seeking help from others, as well as accepting help.

For the physical pains, mothers can try:

• Ibuprofen
• Pain relieving spray
• Ice packs
• Pillow cushions

What To Expect After Delivery?

After delivery, it is normal to have bleeding and a normal amount of discharge which last up to six weeks and should lessen over time.

If you have blood pressure issues during pregnancy, you need to watch out for headaches and vision changes. These types of changes are signs of preeclampsia. Therefore, you may need medical attention right away.

If you ended up having a C-section for delivery it's important to watch out for wound infections. You do that by looking at your wound for redness, excessive, swelling, discharge, or wound separation. When washing the incisions make sure to use soap and water and pat it dry after washing to make sure to fight off infection.

If you're wondering if you are experiencing postpartum depression, you're not alone. Postpartum depression effects up to 400,000 women every year.

If you are experiencing postpartum depression, please schedule an appointment with an OB/GYN at CHI Health.