Postpartum Depression and the "Baby Blues" Since My Baby's Birth Sometimes I Feel... It is not unusual to have these feelings come and go, "good" days alternating with "bad" days. The important thing to remember is you are not the only one many women have these feelings our stories are similar yet different because we are all unique individuals experiencing one or more of the following symptoms: *Sad or hopeless feelings. *Crying for "no" reason. *Inability to enjoy things you once found pleasurable. *Sleep problems (not related to caring for the baby). *Thoughts of harming the baby or yourself. *Nervousness, anxiety and / or panic attacks. *Chest pain. *Overconcern or no feelings for the baby. *Irritable "feeling out of control". *Anger. *Unable to concentrate. *Feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope. *Hot or cold flashes. *Fear of being alone. *Nausea. *Frightening feelings and thought. *Obsessive, weird thoughts that won't go away. *Constant thought of not wanting the baby. *Hatred of husband, self or baby. *Withdrawal or isolation from family and friends. *Desire to leave family (feel if gone all would be better off). *Want life back the way it used to be. *Dark hole or cloud. History of the Blues. The idea that some form of psychiatric illness might follow childbirth is not a new one; it was first mentioned in the 4th century BC by Hippocrates, the Greek physician traditionally regarded as the father of medicine, in the third book of his treatise Epidemics. In 1868 Louis Marce, an observant French doctor, wrote a paper on postnatal illness. Nevertheless, until the 1960's, when the first statistical studies into the illness were carried out, women displaying symptoms of postnatal depression would still have been diagnosed quite simply as suffering from "nerves", an all-encompassing term for any female mental illness. In 1968, postnatal depression expert Professor Brice Pitt published a paper on depressive illness following delivery, and attempted for the first time to offer a separate diagnostic criterion. In the first survey of its kind he studied approximately 365 women and measured their mood during pregnancy and then after the birth. He found the incident rate of the clinical form of depression to be about ten per cent, a figure which is still used as a benchmark today. What is Postnatal Illness? Postnatal illness is a catch-all term for conditions ranging from the "baby blues" through postnatal depression to puerperal psychosis. The distinctions between the three are a matter of degree, but it is helpful to consider them separately. *The baby blues is the most common form of postnatal illness and follows anything from 50 to 80 per cent of deliveries. Typically, a mother may become weepy, irritable or slightly depressed after the third or fourth day. The cause may be hormonal, or may simply be a reaction to the momentous event of childbirth. Either way, the problem is transitory, usually lasts just a few days and rarely requires treatment. *Postnatal depression is more severe and affects one woman in ten. It may start as a bout of the "blues" that gets worse, or it may not descend until some weeks after the birth. The woman will typically be miserable, tearful, prone to panic, anxiety and feelings of failure. She will probably feel constantly tired and lack concentration. Some women entertain obsessional thoughts, groundless fears and ambivalent feelings towards the baby. A few react with revulsion, perhaps even forming the notion that their babies aren't their own. In some cases depression may be triggered by hormonal changes, but social, family and environmental factors, a traumatic birth experience, major life crises, and/or a personal or family history of depression render a woman particularly vulnerable. Antidepressants and counselling are the normal treatments; a recent study confirmed earlier findings that oestrogen patches have an antidepressive effect and speed recovery. Even so, postnatal depression can last for years. *Puerperal psychosis, also known as postpartum psychosis, is a severe mental illness, usually occurring in the first three months after childbirth, and affecting about one mother in 1,000. It strikes out of the blue, usually in the first two weeks after delivery, and may be related to some biological dysfunction. The psychotic woman may suffer a manic depressive or schizophrenic-type reaction, and may require treatment in a psychiatric ward. This usually includes psycho-electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Psychotic mothers may be able to care for their babies under supervision and, despite the extreme symptoms, the prognosis is good: women do recover, and then they get on with their lives. What She Should Do. Take rest, rest and more rest - tiredness can easily lead to exhaustion, which in turn can lead to depression. Resist the temptation to rush around trying to catch up with the housework while the baby is asleep. Try to eat regularly, even if your appetite is small. Take some gentle exercise. Talk over your worries - bottling things up will only make things worse. If you can possibly help it, don't add to your stress by moving house or making major decisions. Try to keep a diary: it will be a useful outlet for your feelings and will help to track your progress. Don't be too hard on yourself - do whatever makes you feel better and reward yourself when you have achieved something, however small. Most importantly, do not be discouraged - every woman who suffers from postnatal illness does recover in time.                          Helpful Links  Online PPD Support Group - Provides information.  POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION -  A Self-Help Support Network, Research Guide and International Bibliography.  Postnatal Depression. Information for Men.  One Mothers story American Family Physician Visit this site and HELP SAVE OTHERS...