Postpartum Depression - What it Really Looks Like

What Postpartum Depression Really Looks Like. This is part one of a series I’m doing on women’s mental health topics.
This video is based on a viewer question from Dr. Mohammed El Sherif who is a obstetrician gynecologist with his own YouTube Channel. He wanted me to help his viewers understand Postpartum depression.

Perinatal depression refers to depression that occurs before, during and after pregnancy. During pregnancy it is called antenatal depression and anytime within 4-6 weeks after giving birth it’s called postpartum depression. Many more women develop baby blues which is mostly sadness, irritability and sleeping problems, but baby blues resolve within the first 10 days.

Postpartum depression has a deeper level of sadness, hopelessness or worthlessness. and trouble functioning and lasts much longer. The symptoms can last weeks to months. For some women this can be the start of a recurring illness that comes back in the future and lasts for months or years.

The depression that can happen postpartum, generally has the same symptoms as a depression that’s not related to pregnancy. This would be symptoms like depressed mood, poor appetite, poor sleep – and this poor sleep would look like trouble sleeping when your baby is sleeping. You can also have irritability, decreased appetite and suicidality. These symptoms can show up in the first 72 hours after you give birth. So it can come on fast.

In this video, I discuss what causes postpartum depression and what are some of the risk factors. In another video, I discuss how we treat postpartum depression.

References
Marlene P. Freeman, Paul E. Keck, Jr., And Susan L. Mcelroy. Postpartum Depression With Bipolar Disorder. American Journal of Psychiatry 2001 158:4, 652-652

Ellen Leibenluft, M.D., and Kimberly A. Yonkers, M.D. The Ties That Bind: Maternal-Infant Interactions and the Neural Circuitry of Postpartum Depression. American Journal of Psychiatry Vol 167, Issue 1101 Nov 2010

Feldman R, Granat A, Pariente C, Kanety H, Kunit J, Gilboa-Schechtman E: Maternal depression and anxiety across the postpartum year and infant social engagement, fear regulation, and stress reactivity. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2009; 48:919–927
Park M, Brain U, Grunau RE, Diamond A, Oberlander TF. Maternal depression trajectories from pregnancy to 3 years postpartum are associated with children's behavior and executive functions at 3 and 6 years. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2018 Jun; 21(3):353-363. Epub 2018 Jan 16.

Evans J, Melotti R, Heron J, Ramchandani P, Wiles N, Murray L, Stein A. The timing of maternal depressive symptoms and child cognitive development: a longitudinal study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2012 Jun; 53(6):632-40. Epub 2011 Dec 23.

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[DrTraceyMarks]

Part two of this video will publish on Friday.

[dianet]

when I had my daughter a year-and-a-half ago, I thought I was having baby blues but after watching this video I realized that baby blues don't last longer than 10 days so I most definitely had postpartum depression. I felt like I didn't or couldn't feel love for her until she was six months. Before that it just felt like work that I wasn't sure I should have signed up for. Thanks for the informative video. 💛

[CA-vvtv]

This video brought me to tears. I too had postpartum depression it was so bad that I resented my child until he was about 4. Everything you said I felt and I believe it greatly impacted my son because he has ASD and still hasn’t learned to speak. I just want to say if you are suffering get help. I didn’t start treatment until my son was about four and these days I appreciate all the special things about him. I wish I could go back in time but I can’t. Please please get help sooner than later for you and your babies sake ❤️

[Megasuss]

Literally teared up when you mentioned “ putting a fake smile “ motherhood is hard, but I know it’ll get better 🤍

[HeisiValkas]

I had severe postpartum depression to the point I had thoughts of wanting to harm myself and my baby. Of course, I feel a heavy guilt with such thoughts. I reached out immediately to receive the help I needed.

[janets]

Dr. Marks, I wish every depressed new mom could hear and believe what you said between 5:39 and 6:07. It would have been so helpful for me when I was depressed.

[DrMohamedElSherif]

Dear Dr. Tracy,
I have been waiting :)
I hope you the best,

Mohamed Elsherif

[mutestingray]

Postpartum depression is one of those things you always hear about, but to know what it is and how it manifests itself is very interesting; thanks!

[cats]

Started my treatment for PPD. Thank you so much for sharing this information being a new mom and dealing with these hormones are tough. We can get through it though and women need to speak about this more often. We are normal and just navigating this new change in life. Dealing with the shame and guilt can feel heavy but I am so thankful I am in therapy and getting the help I need. Ladies we are strong and beautiful and we will all get through this.

[notapplicable]

I developed postpartum depression after both pregnancies. Both of my children went on to later be diagnosed with autism. I, myself, was also diagnosed with autism and bipolar 1. I'm not sure if the bipolar came before or after my pregnancies but I did not experience my first apparent mania until years after giving birth. What you described about the more subtle effects of PPD is spot on. Another thing I learned is that OCD-like intrusive thoughts are a common symptom of PPD. Eight years after the birth of my first son, I still feel guilty and ashamed for some of my thoughts during that time. I also did not know to seek help the first time and my son and I suffered greatly because of it. He was a difficult newborn and he cried all of the time. He was diagnosed with severe reflux which exacerbated his crying which in turn, made my intrusive thoughts worse. I am now in treatment but suffice it to say, his and my relationship has taken years to rebuild due to the damage of untreated postpartum depression.

[SirParcifal]

Being codpendent and not having near family support doesn't help either lol... I had anxiety and depression during pregnancy - because two years before I had my son I was pregnant and miscarried... and then my father died two weeks later - two months later we lost my husband's father, and then three months later my husbands mother died.... we got slammed hard the two years before my son came... so then we went for infertility issues (* I was put on letrozole) and I got pregnant. I was so scared being pregnant - worried if the baby was going to make it to fullterm - afraid to see the miscarriage if it happened again... afraid that something would be wrong with my baby - and thank God - my son is perfect.... I have ups and downs - but I love my son and he is my favorite pain in the ass!!!

[lilylancaster]

It's not just you and your baby it can also go for your negative feelings towards your partner

[aquarius]

I'm 4 years postpartum and still depression and anxiety rule most of my days. I always suffered from generalized anxiety, but after having a baby it turned into times 1000. I wasn't prepared. I didn't have my tank full to prepare me for motherhood. Who knew.

[SaturnsMaiden]

This is very important! This is why I was concerned with having a child! OMG.

[jazminjnee]

The sad part is she has the sound of babies crying in the background of a postpartum depression video. I’m a little triggered and have what feels like PTSD at a newborn’s cry 😭😩 like I feel twitchy, make it stopp pleasee

[janets]

Dr. Marks, thank you SO MUCH for this video. There really has to be more discussion about post partum depression as it is so debilitating and can have such dire consequences for the mother, the baby and the family as a whole. I was hospitalized with post partum depression with my second child. I consider myself lucky to be alive. Support for the mother and baby is so important, and is something I missed out on. I'm looking forward to the rest of this series.

[angelinacc]

Thank you so much for this video. I was hopeing while I was pregnant i wouldn’t be one who has ppd. But now I cry throughout the day. I feel less loved from family and my husband. I feel like the world is crashing on me I feel hopeless lost like I just wanna lie down and give up. It sucks because I don’t want to be this way.

[WickedLove]

I never hated my baby but I had really bad feelings like my life was over but I loved my son and was happy having him.just going back to my hormones before being pregnant my body and mind could not handle it

[vezinam]

This is a great topic Dr. Marks. So many Women deal with this condition, and need to have an understanding not only what’s happening, but that there’s help for them. It’s sad that the joy that can be felt from having a Child can be robbed by this condition when not treated.

[iceveangels]

It’s been very difficult having the depressive symptoms and trying desperately to make sense of it myself 10 months ago because nowhere I search seems to talk about it. It makes me feel insane and I continue to feel that way now and then. Apart from mental effects there are also physical effects and they both have been lingering for more than 8 months. Because I couldn’t figure out what was happening to me, my mental health and physical health has gone down and removes me from being myself and feeling capable of living, I seriously damaged my relationship and this becomes an ongoing loop and i realize gives me a lot of symptoms of borderline personality disorder. My mental health has never been so bad in my life ever since pregnancy. I deeply appreciate this video and feel like i’m on my way to actually managing my health and ability to live life to its fullest