This is a very good article on postpartum depression from yesterday's New York times, written by Jane Brody: Don't Let Your Baby Blues Go Code Red. What really interested me was the following paragraph:
Known risk factors include a personal or family history of depression or substance abuse (Ms. Shields has a family history of alcoholism); lack of support from family and friends; problems with a previous pregnancy or birth (Ms. Shields went through numerous in vitro attempts and a miscarriage); depression after a prior pregnancy; marital or financial problems; being a young or single mother; complications during labor and delivery (Ms. Shields required an emergency Caesarean delivery); a major life change at the time of the birth; and having a baby with serious health problems.
I've also read that thyroid problems can contribute, and that traumatic childhoods can contribute. So I think we here at Postpartum Progress should conduct an informal survey — I'd like to hear from you as to which of these factors, if any, are part of your history. Also, if you have additional factors not listed here that you think may be important to note, please add them. If you want to be anonymous, email them to me at stonecallis@msn.com and I'll keep it confidential. Otherwise just respond to this by clicking on the comments link at the bottom of this post. Please keep your comments brief, as I have below, just so that we don't jam up the blog. And please ask all of the women you know who've suffered a postpartum mood disorder to participate.
I'll go first:
1. I have a history of alcoholism and depression in my family
2. I had a somewhat stressful and traumatic delivery – 18 hours of labor and 4 straight hours of pushing couldn't get him out, so I required forceps and a 4th degree episiotomy
3. Very traumatic childhood, particularly in my first year of life
I'll try to compile everything together (without naming names of course), and see what we find …
Tags: postpartum depression post partum depression baby blues postpartum psychosis
NOTE: As reader Janet pointed out, this is completely unscientific. And the fact of the matter is that you may have had absolutely none of the risk factors listed above and still have gotten PPD. If that's the case, let me know that too. It would seem that there is no single clear set of circumstances that lead to these illnesses, at least not one that we know of. The point of this discussion is to simply to share our history with each other. Thanks Janet.
Here are my symptoms…
1. Family history of alcoholism
2.Traumatic birth with my first child
3.Little support at home with newborn
4. I had a traumatic infancy and childhood….mother was physically abused, at times.
I had SEVERE PPD, bordering on PPPsyc., in 1995. I had another baby in 1998, much less PPD. No medication needed the second time, used holistic treatments.
1. Mother has bipolar disorder
2. I have a history of panic disorder
3. I had fertility problems and had to use Clomid to get pregnant
4. Neglected as a child, which I believe was the cause of my rigid perfectionism (I'm better now)
Speaking of perfectionism, in our support groups, almost 100% of women who suffered some sort of PP mood disorder was used to being independent, organized and had a perfectionistic personality. When our expectations are so high they can't be met, depression or anxiety is usually a result.
1. Family history of depression and alcoholism on both sides, including suicide.
2. Very challenging delivery – emergency c-section.
3. Treatement for breast cancer at age 31, two years before pregnancy -unsure of my future health at time of getting pregnant (fine now – ten years survival this month!)
4. Challenging relationship with in-laws (culture, religion, language, etc.)
1. History of depression and aniexty.
2. severe post partum with two deliveries. the first delivery very hard: c -section after 14 hours of labor. the second one, much easier delivery: schedule c.
3. Tremendous pressure, as I am the sole finicail supporter of our family.
I hope we all remember this is informal and the causes and symptoms are just as different as people are. You may or may not get PPMD's with or without the above circumstances. Some people either don't know all their family history, or maybe can't remember. We need to be careful. A Mom with PPMD's, who feels shes lived a charmed life could have very mixed feelings about these findings without enough education of the complexity of this affliction.
1)History of depression in family
2)Traumatic delivery (with first delivery) – over 4 hrs. pushing requiring vacuum extraction (with no epidural or pain meds)
3) Infertility treatment required to conceive
4) Depression after previous pregnancy
I experienced severe ppd with psychotic features. Currently, I am in partial remission.
1) history of depression (in family, as well as I experienced previous episode)
2) required 4th degree episiotomy
Otherwise, I came from a loving, supportive family. Tremendous support from my husband and mother throughout my recovery.
1. Grandmother may have suffered from menopausal depression — committed suicide.
2. First and only child when I was 40. Very easy pregnancy and delivery.
3. Very happy childhood.
4. Moderate peri-menopausal depression and anxiety. Low dose anti-depressants have been very helpful.
5. I have always been a person who exercises regularly and eats a healthy balanced diet — these alone did not help me avoid or resolve my bouts with depression.
1. Rampant alcoholism on both sides of my family
2. preterm contractions at 29 weeks, in bed for 7 weeks, then 22 hours of labor
3. Suffer from fibromyalgia
4. Traumatic childhood with an abusive father
1. 16 hour labor, 3 hours pushing, episiotomy, tear to rectum.
2. Mother had cancer surgery (sarcoma) 1 week after son's birth.
3. Mother did not call for 6 weeks, history of narcisistic disorder with depression.
4. Abrupt stop to breast feeding, severe sleep deprivation.
5. Only social support is mother in law does baby's laundry.
6. Husband is supportive but no intimacy.
7. Zero baby care experience.