The Faces of Postpartum Depression
February 1, 2010 by admin
Filed under WELCOME HOME, BABY
After a baby is born, life for a new mother is turned inside out.
The soft-focus daydreams of pregnancy suddenly fast-forward into a blur of diaper changes, feedings and bonding to meet the needs of a newborn.
“We enter motherhood and we often have very unrealistic expectations of what it’s going to be like,” said Liv MacKenzie, a licensed professional counselor in Durango.
For some women, the postpartum period – up to a year after birth – is a time of bliss. But others are surprised to feel the sting of anxiety or depression. The tricky part of postpartum depression is first recognizing that you have it, then breaking through emotional barriers to seek help.
Bayfield mother Laura Lopez had a traumatic birthing experience, followed by several days of her daughter going through interventions in the hospital.
“Because of the constant vigilance over my daughter, I suffered severe sleep deprivation, and as a result, I spiraled into severe anxiety,” said Lopez.
“I tried to seek help, but it seemed no one recognized what I was experiencing was postpartum anxiety. Liv was the first one to put a name to it and validate it for me. That acknowledgment in itself was the beginning of my healing.”
Defining a disorder
About 80 percent of women get the “baby blues,” a normal bout of sadness, crying and increased sensitivity in the three to five days just after birth. On the other extreme, psychosis is rare and can happen one to two weeks after birth. Women have scary visions or hallucinations they think are real, or wish to harm themselves or their babies. This is a medical condition that demands immediate treatment by a doctor.
Postpartum depression, or PPD, is similar to other mood disorders and depression, but it’s induced by the major adjustments of life with a baby. Doctors haven’t pinpointed exactly what causes it, but the condition can be brought on by a combination of social, emotional and biochemical factors.
“It’s the sleep deprivation, the extra work,” said MacKenzie. “She could be having an identity crisis at the same time and be stuck on the couch nursing all day, or recovering from major surgery, and the partner goes back to work – it’s overwhelming.”
PPD can occur up to a year after birth – sometimes longer – and ranges from mild to severe. About one in five women suffer from it. There’s also a 30 percent chance for recurrence after a second baby.
“Some of the symptoms are very clear, and some are not,” said MacKenzie, who has practiced in Durango for more than 10 years and specializes in treating adolescents, young adults and mothers.
Symptoms include a range of physical and emotional problems triggered by anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive behavior. A woman may say “I’m not myself.” Some symptoms, such as fatigue, could be discounted as normal. The key is to recognize when the symptoms become chronic and affect daily life.
“The population I’m concerned about is women with mild PPD,” MacKenzie said.
Who is at risk
Certain women can be predisposed to the condition, although there is no way to know for sure who will get it, said MacKenzie. Typically, it’s someone with a Type A personality, a history of mood disorder and a lack of a support system. Women who experience depression during pregnancy are also at risk.
“This is the woman who is very adept at looking right and doing things right. On all outward appearances she’s fine, but internally she’s suffering. There’s a lot of comparison, looking at other mothers or families, and making the conclusion that ‘they’re doing it better than I am.’”
The Type A woman tends to put pressure on herself and set high expectations, said MacKenzie. She may have trouble admitting a loss of control, which creates a block to seeking help.
“Speaking out is part of helping take away that shame for myself, and hopefully to normalize the experience for other mothers,” said Lopez, whose baby is now 8 months old.
If a woman is on the fence about seeking treatment, MacKenzie offers important motivation: Postpartum depression can have a negative effect on bonding with the baby, partnerships and the woman’s sense of self. If left untreated, PPD symptoms may get worse, stay the same or eventually go away – but it may take years.
Road to recovery
The good news is that PPD is treatable with swift intervention, and may be prevented during pregnancy with preparation. MacKenzie said many women recover within a month to six months. Recovery depends on early diagnosis, in some cases medication, and a client’s active involvement in their recovery. Her therapy for PPD is short-term, adaptive, client-driven and focused on practical advice.
“What helped me the most was learning some self-care,” said Lopez, who was treated by MacKenzie. “I didn’t feel I had a right to my own time. There was so much to do with a baby, how could I possibly take a break for myself? She
encouraged me to get outside, to get exercise and to take time away by myself doing something I enjoyed.”
Lopez said that in never taking a break, she was exhausting herself and not allowing her husband to learn how to care for the baby. MacKenzie encourages clients to involve their partners in child-rearing so they don’t feel they have to do it all on their own.
MacKenzie has two young sons, ages 2 and 5. She said didn’t have “full-blown” PPD, but she can relate to the experience.
“When a woman gives me the privilege of walking this path with her, I feel a heartfelt connection and joy when she feels better,” she said. “So it’s partially the therapist in me that’s drawn to this work, and partially the mother and woman in me that acknowledges what a major life transition and passage this is.”
From the Durango Herald
by Karla Sluis
