The truth about postpartum depression

Many pregnant women expect the postpartum period to be filled with newborn bliss and baby snuggles. Social media often reinforces that picture. The reality, however, is very different, and a surprising number of mothers experience a major impact on their mental health.

Maternal mental health disorders are common

According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, about one-in-eight moms experience postpartum depression after having a baby. Symptoms include extreme feelings of guilt, sadness, and anger. There are many more, such as experiencing upsetting, intrusive thoughts or showing little interest in things the new mother once enjoyed.

Ciprian Gheorghe, MD, PhD, medical director of maternity services at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, said fear and shame are what keep many women from seeking help.

"There's this expectation that you're going to be the perfect mother and figure it out on your own," Gheorghe said. "There's a fear that if you talk about it, you will not necessarily get help but get shamed or punished."

If women do seek help, sometimes it is not until they are in a crisis.

"This is a problem that can escalate quickly. Until things get bad, there's often no intervention," Gheorghe said. "A small intervention early on can make a big difference."

"You're not a bad mother; you're just experiencing some physiologic and hormonal changes. Add on top of it sleep deprivation and natural anxiety over having a child; you're going to be out of sorts. It's just hard," Gheorghe said. "It's best to reach out early, and it's okay to go through treatment."

Postpartum depression is a misunderstood illness

Despite being so prevalent, postpartum depression is widely misunderstood. In fact, postpartum depression is often incorrectly used as a catch-all term for a larger spectrum of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, or "PMADs." According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecologists, these include posttraumatic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and in rare cases, psychosis.

Mental health impacts do not necessarily start after having a baby. Sometimes, they begin in the perinatal period, even before someone is pregnant. This is especially true if someone has a history of anxiety and depression.

Gheorghe said, in those cases, it is important for women to continue their care and speak with a doctor before discontinuing any medications.

Treatment is possible

Experiencing a maternal mental health disorder says nothing about a mother's character, and the conditions are treatable.

"You're not a bad mother; you're just experiencing some physiologic and hormonal changes. Add on top of it sleep deprivation and natural anxiety over having a child; you're going to be out of sorts. It's just hard," Gheorghe said. "It's best to reach out early, and it's okay to go through treatment."

For more information about services and support groups at LLUCH, click here.

If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, please make sure they know about the resources and after-hours phone numbers available 24/7, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) and the Crisis Text Line at 741-741.