They Say: Post-Partum Depression Totally Predictable
Post-partum depression affects around 13 percent of all women who have given birth. But often it doesn’t show up until two or three months after birth. That’s well past the final six-week check-up, which means a possibly depressed woman wouldn’t be seen by a doctor until she has already been broadsided by depression.
What would help is if PPD could be predicted. Spanish researchers think they’ve found a way to anticipate nearly 80 percent of all cases — 80 PERCENT! That’s huge.
The model they developed diagnoses a likelihood for PPD even before a mother shows symptoms. From Science Daily:
The researchers used artificial neuronal networks and extracted a series of risk factors highlighted in previous studies — the extent of social support for the mother, prior psychiatric problems in the family, emotional changes during the birth, neuroticism and polymorphisms in the serotonin transport gene (genes with high levels of expression lead to an increased risk of developing the illness).
They also discovered two protection factors that reduce the risk of depression — age (the older the woman the lower her chance of depression), and whether or not a woman has worked during pregnancy (which reduces the risk).
These risk factors and physical realities are plugged into the model and, voila!, a woman is deemed at-risk.
Of course, I would find it irritating (not to mention a real buzz kill) to be hanging with my newborn and having to listen to a social worker tell me I’m at risk. Still, until we take the baby blues more seriously, I’d be willing to listen.
Did you suffer from PPD? How were you diagnosed? When were you diagnosed? What do you think about someone telling you you might — MIGHT — suffer PPD?
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Photo: Science Daily
[...] Post-Partum Depression Totally Predictable [...]
I was 41 when I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. My husband and I planned for me to stay home and we felt it the right thing to do for our child and family. We had the financial resources to accomplish the goal so money was no factor of stress. What I didn’t expect was the total depression I went through about 4 months after my baby’s birh. I loved my daughter but suddenly felt so inadequate as a partner in the marriage. I had worked since I was 14 years old, attended college and lived on my own. I worked for a non-profit private school for disabled children for 13 years and studied special education as my major. I was a youth leader and sunday school teacher at my church for 10 years. Then, after 4 months of being home with a newborn, I couldn’t stop crying = all day long! I felt totally removed from my co-workers and friends, and felt that I
wasn’t “contributing” to the household wih my husband because I was not bringing in a paycheck and therefore, I felt I wasn’t ‘helping’. I have a wonderful husband who made me realize that my “new” job was taking care of the baby and our home and he encouraged me to start making plans with friends and even baby sat while I had some time to myself. It took about another 3-4 months (so about the 8th month home with the baby) before I finally felt like I was contributing as a partner to the household and could define myself (comfortably) as a “stay-at-home” mom and be able to proudly tell people that I was happy with my decision. I wonder if other “older” mom’s go through the postpartum depression stage after giving birth because they have defined their “contribution” to their homes as bringing in a paycheck and, when suddenly faced with the realization that their “careers” are on hold and they are not contributing financially, that they have a tough time accepting motherhood. I have talked to several ‘older’ mothers who have felt that they have taken a similar path and felt the same way. No one regrets having their children – but all admit that they had a hard time (depression) in dealing with their role change from monetary partner and provider to full time mother and homemaker. Anyone else go through this?
Would I have ???? Heck I might have avoided a lot of awful days if someone more experienced had taken the time to assess my personal situation and level of risk…in hindsight there was a BIG FLASHING NEON ARROW pointing at me…ah, lets see
lifetime of undiagnosed anxiety
high achiever
first child
abusive childhood
expat (ie no family within a zillion miles)
travelling spouse (left for 2 weeks on a business trip 2 days after we came home from hospital)
clueless spouse
clueless helper
breastfeeding problems- undiagnosed thrush- extreme pain
conflicting parenting advice- US vs UK practices (eg when to tub bath baby)
oh hello PPD, how come it took you so long to get here..NOT.
[...] Test Predicts PPD [...]
[...] Test Predicts PPD [...]
CommentsI’ve treated many cases of postpartum depression over the decades and acupuncture has never failed to quickly resolve the problem. Period.
[...] Post-Partum Depression Predictable Even BEFORE Pregnancy [...]
Anxiety and depression is one hell of a nasty disease. even if you have everything but if you have clinical depression, you are still nothing.’:.
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