Many women suffer from postpartum depression and yet lots of women who struggle with PPD feel alone in their experiences. It can be difficult to talk about PPD. New mothers might feel like they have no one to turn to for help. They may also worry that others will judge their parenting skills, or doubt their love for their children. But truthfully, PPD is fairly common. It is thought to be caused by a combination of hormonal and environmental factors.
The vast majority of women who experience PPD do heal after a number of months and begin feeling like themselves again. Here are a few illuminating statistics demonstrating just how widespread PPD and similar conditions really are, as well as some key risk factors and preventative strategies.
The Baby Blues
Immediately after giving birth, many new mothers go through a period known as “the baby blues.” While the baby blues and PPD are not the same thing, they can feel similar at first, and women who experience the baby blues might worry that it will turn into PPD.
Furthermore, the baby blues can be stressful for new mothers, as they might fear that feeling sad after giving birth means they won’t bond with their newborn. But the baby blues are more common than not. In fact, somewhere between 50% to 75% of women experience the baby blues over the first couple of days to weeks after giving birth. These feelings often go away on their own after a week or two.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is more serious than the baby blues and lasts much longer. It can be difficult to get an accurate estimate of how many women suffer from PPD, but studies indicate that PPD affects anywhere from 10% to 20% of women.
However, the actual percentage could be far higher, as many women are not necessarily educated on the symptoms of PPD, or may not feel comfortable opening up about their experiences.
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety, also known as PPA, can go hand in hand with PPD. While this is a distinct condition characterized by severe symptoms, it affects about 17% of women, often along with PPD. Other conditions, such as postpartum OCD and postpartum psychosis, are much rarer than PPA and PPD. They still affect many women each year.
Risk Factors
What actually causes PPD and other related conditions? There is no predictive test that can determine whether a woman will develop PPD or not. PPD is not caused by one single factor. Instead, it generally seems the result of several conflating circumstances.
For example, women who struggled with anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues before getting pregnant are at a higher risk of PPD. Women who developed PPD after a previous birth are more likely to experience these symptoms again if they have more children. Furthermore, lower-income women with limited access to healthcare, and women with weaker support systems, are also more susceptible to PPD.
Mitigating Factors
On the other hand, what actually helps protect women from PPD? PPD may be partially caused by the massive hormonal shift that occurs during the postpartum period, which cannot be prevented. But it’s also influenced by social and environmental factors.
Educating women on the symptoms of PPD so that they can reach out for help early on is essential. Therapy can also help women manage their symptoms and recover from PPD. Most importantly, every new mother needs a strong support system, so that she knows she isn’t alone as she learns to navigate motherhood.
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Talking to a therapist can help you heal. Reach out to us today to learn more about how postpartum therapy can help you.