Post Partum Depression

Post Partum Depression

Unlike "the baby blues" which affects 70% to 80% of new mothers and does not require prompt medical attention due to its mild nature. Major Post Partum Depression attacks 10% of new mothers and is entirely a beast of a different nature, one that must be reckoned with. The most recent Post Partum case that has rightfully caused a media frenzy is the Andrea Yates case. Yates was the mother of five young children. This past summer Yates held each of her children in a bath tub full of water until their death. Yates had PPD.

Post Partum depression causes a new mother to become depressed to a severe extent. PPD causes its patients to fall to an uncomfortable mental state. PPD patients feel discouraged, hostile, impatient, and can even have thoughts of harming themselves or others. Some PPD patients claim to be Ainsane@ during their time of depression. They may hear voices or see unreal images.

Almost every new mother has AThe New Baby Blues@ after their delivery. Becoming a mother can be a very intimidating experience, everyone has fears and concerns. However, PPD is much worst than that, it=s an emotional, physical, and mental depression. It=s a severe form of AThe New Baby Blues.@ PPD occurs due to the unbalance of hormones during pregnancy trying to recover. The body endures so many changes during pregnancy it=s difficult for a female to just bounce back to her pre-motherhood self.

PPD can be detected through the following symptoms:

$Fear of harming self or baby $Lack of interest $Anxiety $Forgetfulness $Hostility $Unexplainable crying$Desire to leave$Change of appetite $Over or under concern for baby $Fantasies of disaster or bizarre fears $Rapid mood swings $Irritability $Confusion $Nervousnes...

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...couple's fifth baby and first daughter, Mary, was born. As psychiatrists had predicted, Yates began to deteriorate again, and the downward spiral continued when her father died in March. She was nearly mute by the time her husband took her to the hospital in April and again in May for help. As before, the medical staff's chief concern was that Yates would harm herself, not her kids. She was diagnosed as possibly psychotic, then declared stable and able to begin outpatient treatment. During the outpatient treatment she began to look better, then she Arelapsed@ and June 20th began.

In conclusion, I feel PPD needs to be taught and future parents need to be warned. This is quite possibly a disorder you=ve never heard of that is why I feel you need to be informed on PPD and you need to understand the facts of the Andrea Yates case to clearly comprehend the facts of PPD.