The Maternal Mental Health Crisis

Postpartum depression is a condition that happens after delivering a baby, leading a person to feel extreme sadness and extreme mood swings. The exact cause of postpartum depression is currently unknown, but it's said to stem from a variety of factors such as changes in hormonal levels, changing lifestyle factors, and physical changes. Postpartum depression can develop gradually or within the first weeks after having a baby. Women with postpartum depression are usually diagnosed through screening questions, clinical evaluation, and blood

tests.

It's important to note the difference between postpartum blues and depression. Postpartum blues appear through different symptoms and typically exhibit behaviors and characteristics 2-3 days after childbirth. These blues can come and go and usually improve within a few weeks or days without any treatments. In contrast, if postpartum depression is left untreated, it can last for months or even years. Postpartum depression also affects a mothers aiblitity to take care and connect with her child. Women with postpartum depression experience more severe symptoms than women with postpartum blues, such as anxiety, irritability, sleep disturbances, and feeling overwhelmed. Mothers may also experience feelings of hopelessness, confusion, and intense sadness.

One of the most effective preventers for postpartum depression is psychological care and support for a woman after giving birth. It significantly reduces the feeling of isolation and allows the mother to adjust to living with and caring for a newborn. Stress management also significantly reduces the risk of PPD as it allows the mother to practice self-care while also prioritizing the newborn.

A similar condition to postpartum depression that a few women may experience is postpartum psychosis, which affects around 2 in 1000 women.  postpartum psychosis completely disrupts a person's sense of reality, which causes delusions and hallucinations. This condition is severe and dangerous to both the mother and the child.  Treatments for this condition include electroconvulsive therapy, which uses an electrical current to induce a mild seizure. This can help reduce the effects of postpartum psychosis by changing brain activity. 

 Maternal healthcare is something that continues to be understudied in medical research. This leads to conditions such as PPD being misdiagnosed and overlooked as a condition. The best way to combat this is through prioritizing funding on maternal health and listening to and researching the lived experiences of women experiencing these conditions.

Works Cited

Chisholm, MD, Andrea. “Postpartum Depression: The Worst Kept Secret - Harvard Health Blog.” Harvard Health Blog, 8 Feb. 2017, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/postpartum-depression-worst-kept-secret-2017020811008.

Cleveland Clinic. “Postpartum Depression.” Cleveland Clinic, 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9312-postpartum-depression.

---. “Postpartum Psychosis.” Cleveland Clinic, 13 Sept. 2022, my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24152-postpartum-psychosis.

Medline Plus. “Postpartum Depression.” Medlineplus.gov, National Library of Medicine, 2019, medlineplus.gov/postpartumdepression.html.

“Postpartum Blues vs Postpartum Depression.” Ada.org, 2024, www.ada.org/resources/practice/wellness/postpartum-blues-vs-postpartum-depression.

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