Postpartum Depression Essay

Postpartum depression is a depression suffered by a mother following childbirth. Postpartum psychosis is a worse form of postpartum depression. It is postpartum depression with psychotic symptoms. There are many different symptoms and risk factors that come with postpartum depression. This paper talks about postpartum depression and psychosis, and the effects it has on women.

History

The earliest documentation of postpartum psychosis was in 400 B.C. by Hippocrates. Up until recently there was not much known about postpartum psychosis. Symptoms include persistent low mood, inadequacy, failure, hopelessness, helplessness, exhaustion, emptiness, sadness, tearfulness, guilt, shame, worthlessness, confusion, anxiety and panic, fear for the baby, fear of being alone or going out, lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities, insomnia or excessive sleep, nightmares, not eating or overeating, decreased energy and motivation, withdraw from social contact, poor self care, inability to cope with routine tasks, inability to think clearly and make decisions, lack of concentration and poor memory, running away from everything, fear of being rejected by partner, worry about harm or death to partner or baby, and

Despite the fact that it only effects only a small percentage of women it can affect many others. If postpartum depression is left untreated it can develop into postpartum psychosis. Some women develop postpartum psychosis, and must seek immediate treatment. If not treated some women could quite possibly commit infanticide and or commit suicide. Many women however, do not commit infanticide and or commit suicide. These women claim they did not hear violent commands like other women have. There are a few medicines that when combined with psychotherapy help cure postpartum depression. Today many women are still affected by postpartum depression, but modern medicine is helping cure one woman at a