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Depression After Pregnancy

By Zinn Jeremiah

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 18Mar2008
Word count: 452
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On the whole, depression is a far-reaching problem. In the United States it's believed that twenty percent of the population is depressed, a percentage that equates to tens of millions of people. Unfortunately, most of the millions of depressed people in the US never receive treatment, making depression in the US not only far-reaching but also chronic. This lack of depression treatment not only leads to individual suffering, but also to millions of dollars in combined lost productivity every year.

When considering how to approach the problem of depression, it's worth considering whether depression is most prevalent in a particular segment of society. It was long believed that women were most prone to depression, but in recent times this thinking has been reconsidered. The fact of the matter is, not only do men get depression but men are more likely to commit suicide because of depression than women are. Looking at depression as purely a gender issue then is not only inaccurate but may also lead to dire consequences in outreach efforts.

It's important then to be clear that men can and do get depressed, and that treatment for depressed men is available. It is true however that women are most likely to report feeling depressed, and that depression in women who've recently given birth may be especially significant. Depression in women after childbirth is common enough that it has its own terminology: postpartum depression is what post childbirth depression is most often referred to as, though it can also be called perinatal depression.

Postpartum depression is a simple enough condition: it's a case of depression in a woman who's recently given birth. The uncertainty with postpartum depression is why it occurs in the first place. Carrying a child over the course of nine months is a terrific responsibility, and that responsibility in itself can lead to stress and feelings of depression. A woman who feels a lack of support following childbirth can also understandably become depressed. It's believed as well that there may be a hormonal aspect to postpartum depression: hormonal balance in a woman rises greatly during pregnancy, and then drops back to normal within twenty-four hours of giving birth. It would be surprising if this sort of hormonal swing didn't have at least some impact on mood.

While it's certainly true that not every woman who gives birth becomes depressed afterward, it happens often enough that it's something to be aware of. The good news is that while postpartum depression can be difficult to deal with it typically clears on its own; and if it doesn't clear on its own, there are effective treatments available.

Zinn Jeremiah is a freelance writer. For help with depression, visit help depression or depression treatment.

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