Motherhood is an opportunity to realise highly significant and inspiring work. However, many times, it is associated with only now and then mental and emotional stressful situations. Therefore, evaluating mental health after childbirth is paramount. It is essential to understand the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression because many symptoms overlap.

Baby blues postnatal depression is normal, and about 80 per cent of women experience some symptoms in the first few weeks after childbirth. Postpartum thyroiditis commonly occurs several days after birth and can last from several days to two weeks.

Some of the other feelings that people experience are mood swings, increased levels of irritability, and feelings of anxiety, and some mothers may cry over too much stress. Such emotional transformations are very significant and severe when the woman is a mother with a baby.

It is due to hormonal changes, a factor observed in most women because of the dramatic changes of oxytocin hormone in new mothers shortly after birth. The estrogens used in pregnancy are the hormonal estrogens which are raised to enable the growth of the baby and preparation for birth. However, after childbirth, these levels drastically decrease, and most moms can swing from one mood to another. This is so primarily because most women experience hormonal fluctuations during childbirth, restlessness due to sleepless nights, physical work strain during delivery, and the responsibility of attending to a newborn. However, the common symptoms may include slight fever, tiredness, emotional changes, and weight loss, which are often easily manageable and disappear once hormonal balance is achieved and mothers get back to their routines.

Baby Blues

80 per cent of new mothers have baby blue and are considered part of postpartum life. This condition usually develops a few days after delivery and may persist for up to two weeks. Mothers may experience several emotional and physical symptoms; the feelings that people experience include mood swings, irritability, increased levels of anxiety and episodes of crying that may be precipitated by mundane stresses. Such emotional changes are very intense and critical when the woman is a mother caring for an infant. It happens due to sudden changes in hormones like Oxytocin, estrogen, Progesterone, etc. But, the symptoms are mostly mild and resolve once the body hormones have balanced and mothers return to more normal activities.

Managing Baby Blues

After childbirth, managing baby blues is challenging, but if we keep a few things short, then fighting baby blues will be relatively easy and doesn't require medical intervention in most cases.

Managing stress after childbirth can seem impossible at times, but nonetheless, it can be managed with proper stress management techniques. Practising mindfulness can help focus on the present moment, which can be particularly beneficial during the overwhelming early days of motherhood. Deep Breathing practices like Pranayam can also play a significant role in keeping the mind relaxed.

Involvement from Family and Friends

The lack of support from family and friends is one of the reasons for stress and low moods in the postpartum period. If family and loved ones are with them during this time, it can help to address a lot of the issues of mental health and child care for both parents.

Nutritious Diet

In this stage, taking adequate nutrients is very important if the mother is to remain physically and Mentally healthy. Proper nutrition will assist in this by helping boost energy levels and, thus, mood. The other factor is equally relevant; that is getting sufficient sleep. Most new parents are forced to have sleepless nights if they have to be the ones to attend to the baby. This may be fixed by sharing parenting responsibilities to cover time for rest. These include resting and sleeping, which conserve energy and enhance mood quality in the most general sense.

Postpartum Depression

Mental Health issues like postpartum depression (PPD) is also connected to childbirth that occur at the time of pregnancy or within one year after birth. Unlike ordinary conditions referred to as baby blues, which can easily be solved in one to two weeks, but PPD involves persistent feelings of sadness and despair.

Postpartum Depression is a much more severe affliction that can start during pregnancy or within one year of the delivery. In general, it can persist for more than two weeks. Its symptoms are even more severe than "baby blues." It involves more chronic levels of sadness and hopelessness that last for more than two weeks.

Symptoms: The primary manifestations of this kind of illness are low spirit or hopelessness, inability to engage in activities that used to be pleasantly rewarding, and social isolation. A number of the mother respondents displayed high indices of appetite and sleep patterns that suggest fatigue and loss of energy correspond with an increased feeling of sadness. Other problems include difficulties in concentration or decision-making, making it even harder to care for the newborn. In its severe form, PPD may lead to thoughts of self or baby harm, so such mothers must seek medical help as soon as possible.

Risk Factors

There are various factors that can increase the risk of postpartum-related mental health issues.

A personal history of mental health issues: If there is a prior history of mental health issues, it can pose as a catalyst for postpartum depression. These mental health issues could range anywhere from depression and anxiety to bipolar disorder. Individuals with these backgrounds may be more vulnerable to emotional challenges after childbirth.

Lack of Social Support or Financial Shortage

Losing contact with family or friends or not having such people around her can cause a new mother to feel isolated and find it difficult to handle things. Women's Financial dependence on their husbands is common in India, but financial dependence can worsen this situation. Such factors may be putting women at higher risk during the Postpartum period to develop postnatal mental health problems.

Treatments

Baby blue is manageable through self-care and support from the loved one and family member, but Postpartum Depression often needs intervention by a professional. There are many therapies, like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Interpersonal Therapies, Stress and Trauma based therapies and in some cases, antidepressants might also be prescribed.

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