The tricky thing about it is that no specific cause of postpartum depression has been found.
Hormone imbalance is likely to play a role. Levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol fall dramatically within 48 hours after delivery. Women who go on to develop postpartum depression may be more sensitive to these hormonal changes.
Risk factors
- History of depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive thoughts or behavior, mania
- Family history
- Marital conflict
- Prior episode
- Low confidence as parent
- Baby’s personality, health or disability
- Single parent
- Super woman syndrome
- Hormonal risks (thyroid imbalance, PMS, infertility, etc)
- Pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or stillbirth
The risk of major depression after miscarriage is high for women who are childless. It occurs even in women who were unhappy about being pregnant. The risk for developing depression after miscarriage is highest within the first few months after the loss.
Childbirth is a time when everything changes. Adjusting to these changes can contribute to depression.
Physical changes after delivery
- Many changes occur after delivery, including changes in muscle tone and difficulty losing weight.
- Many new mothers are very tired after giving birth and in the weeks afterwards.
- Soreness and pain in your perineal area (area around the birth canal) makes many women uncomfortable. Physical recovery after cesarean delivery may take even longer than after vaginal delivery.
- Changes in hormones can affect mood.
Emotional changes after delivery
- Feelings of loss of an old identity, feeling trapped at home
- Feeling overwhelmed with responsibilities of motherhood
- Feeling stress from changes in routine
- Feeling fatigue because of broken sleep patterns
- Feeling less attractive physically and sexually
A mother’s age and the number of children she has had have nothing to do with getting postpartum depression.
