The new mother in the very initial days and weeks after her childbirth undergoes a variety of emotional turmoil. Someday while he might feel wonderful having feelings of awe, joy, and bliss on other days she might be sad. These low feelings and crying bouts immediately after the childbirth is known as “baby blues”. This emotional disorder is very common if you are a new mother, however, these symptoms generally subside within a week or two. These dramatic emotional changes are generally attributed to the hormonal changes that are associated with childbirth.

However, if we study the charts we can see that one out of every seven women experiences emotional symptoms that is something more than just baby blues which is known as postpartum depression (PPD). While the symptoms of baby blues tend to pass quickly PPD symptoms have a long stay and have a severe effect on the mother’s routine on getting back to her normal life.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

Though feeling moody and fatigued are normal symptoms after delivering, the symptoms of postpartum depression are much more than this and it severely affects the process of returning to normal life. The PPD symptoms are different from one person to person; there is a variation even in day to day symptoms. However, if you are suffering from postpartum depression you can expect the following symptoms:

• You will suddenly feel sad and feel like crying nut you won’t know the reason behind it.
• Even though you will feel exhausted, you won’t be able to sleep.
• If you fall asleep you will sleep too much. 
• Either you will be eating a lot or you won’t feel like eating at all. 
• You will have unexplained body aches, and signs of illness.
• You will be irritable, anxious and angry and you won’t know the reason.
• Your moods change suddenly and without warning.
• You will not have self-control. 
• You will have low memory power and you will tend to forget things.
• Taking simple steps and concentrating will be difficult for you. 
• You won’t be able to enjoy things that you used to love doing.
• You feel disconnected from your baby and wonder why you’re not filled with joy like you thought you’d be. 
• Everything feels overwhelming and hopeless.
• You feel worthless and guilty about your feelings.
• You feel like you can’t open up to anyone because they’ll think you’re a bad mother or take your baby, so you withdraw.
• You want to escape from everyone and everything.
• You have intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or your baby.
• Your friends and family may notice that you’re withdrawing from them and from social activities or that you just don’t seem like yourself.

Symptoms are most likely to start within a few weeks of delivery. Sometimes, postpartum depression doesn’t surface until months later. Symptoms may let up for a day or two and then return. Without treatment, symptoms may continue to worsen.

However, as there is no set rule as to how long postpartum depression will last in a mother, the sooner the mother seeks treatment, the sooner they can recover. Typically, postpartum depression generally recovers within a few months with proper hormonal and psychological treatments, but if left untreated, it may last up to a year and in certain severe cases, it might last even longer.

Recovery procedure for Post Natal depression

As we have said with proper treatment it is possible to cure postnatal depression and if provided with appropriate treatment and mental and emotional support, every delivering woman who is undergoing this emotional turmoil can make a full recovery, although it will surely take time.

There are 3 elemental phases of treatment:

1. Self-help strategies:

These are the strategies that you can implement yourself and motivate yourself to come out of this emotional turmoil. You can try these following steps

• Talk to your partner or your friends and family and let them know how you are feeling and h they how they can support you. 
• Try not to be a “supermom” doing all things by yourself rather accept help from your family members and loved ones if they offer you on tasks such as housework, cooking, and shopping
• Dedicate some quality time for yourself with activities, such as going for a walk, listening to music, reading a book or just having a steam bath. 
• Though it is very difficult to find some time for rest in the initial days after your childbirth, if you are noticing symptoms of PPD, you should try to get some sleep whenever you find some free time. Good sleeping habits are really a great antidote in postnatal depression.
• Regular exercises can also boost your moods. You should also develop healthy eating habits like eating healthy meals at regular intervals.

2. Psychological therapies

Psychological therapies are one of the primary methodologies that are suggested to mothers with PPD symptoms. Therapies such as cognitive behavior therapies and intrapersonal therapies can help mothers a lot. Psychological therapies help mothers a lot from recovering from postpartum depression.

3. Medication

Hormonal therapies and anti-depressant are also an option for treating prenatal depression.

How to make yourself feel better

It is important to know that postpartum depression is not your fault. Postpartum depression is a medical condition that can be treated. By sharing your feelings with a professional, you will be on your way to making positive changes that will have a big impact on your daily well-being. The adjustment to motherhood can be very stressful as you learn to navigate your new role, balancing care for yourself and an infant (and possibly other children and family members). This can be demanding, exhausting and overwhelming. If you are a new mom with feelings of anxiety or depression, you may even feel guilty or ashamed. Motherhood is all about celebrating a new life, in which we at KIMS Cuddles are right away at your service to help you, celebrate every moment of it.