I Don’t Feel Overwhelming Love For My Baby — The Reality Of Postpartum Depression #WomenOnTheMove

Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that new mothers often face. It can occur in the weeks or months following child birth. 

Studies suggest that almost a quarter of women suffer from postpartum depression in the first year of giving birth. However, it won’t be surprising if the real numbers are higher than this. Postnatal depression is often missed, misjudged or misdiagnosed.

The feeling of being trapped in an unending loop of chores, broken sleep, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility sometimes becomes too overbearing for a new mother. Some of the common symptoms of postpartum depression include feeling low, tired and lethargic, inadequate, irritable, tearful and unable to cope, loss of appetite, insomnia etc.

In our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter, this week we discussed how postpartum depression or post natal depression affects women and what can be done to address this problem. Read on to find out.

(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7 PM IST).

Why postpartum depression is a difficult subject to diagnose and address?

Postpartum depression is largely ignored or not known

@womensweb Oh yes, not many women know about this, even gynaecologist don’t discuss it after delivery #WomenOnTheMove

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— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017

@womensweb Q1 – Unfortunately,Yes.Insecurity,emotional weakness, etc creeps in #WomenOnTheMove

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

@womensweb @SummiGambhir It’s one of those things that r considered “natural” baby blues but the spectrum of post-partum illnesses is large

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) February 8, 2017

It’s not just post-partum depression but also the acute fear of pregnancy and childbirth that needs to be recognized https://t.co/dHT9urSODr

— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) February 8, 2017

@womensweb A big yes. Just yesterday had a long discussion about it with a friend who ended up making fun of it. Many think it’s not real.

— Anupama Dalmia (@Anupama_Dalmia) February 8, 2017

@womensweb totally….a new mom is expected to know all abt her baby n be happy all the time.no need to rest n why be sad when u have baby

— asfiyarahman (@doonwriter) February 8, 2017

Dangers of postpartum depression

I never suffered but have seen friends fight it… A tough challenge #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/WfGfmW6EyA

— EloquentArticulation (@indywrites) February 8, 2017

@womensweb hv seen friends go through it, the guilt of not loving their own baby is 2 much to bear. Support of the husband really helps here

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017

@womensweb Q2.my friend cud nt accept the sweet cutie n was yelling “i cant handle this thing”.Its too big a responsibility for a new mom..

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

Completely agree…I have been through this depression phase for not months but couple of years! #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/POg0uNET4c

— Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017

@womensweb #Womenonthemove Yes,harsh reality is so.Anything nt happng right,directly blamed on mother,u don wanna feed ur baby,so no milk

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

@womensweb @sakshi2487 In this context, V. important to consider the situation of single mothers. Post-partum illnesses often manifest later

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

@womensweb A2 have seen someone go through it with near fatal consequences #WomenOnTheMove

— Lata S (@lsunil) February 8, 2017

@womensweb #womenonthemove I recall bursting into tears when slipped a leg of my 3 day old baby while picking her from bed to my lap

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

@lsunil One of the most confusing phases of a woman’s life after adolescence and before Menopause.Sigh ! #WomenOnTheMove @womensweb

— Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017

How can we help new mothers?

A friend had family support and spoke about it extensively #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/I4tWNXAX4D

— EloquentArticulation (@indywrites) February 8, 2017

@womensweb hv seen friends go through it, the guilt of not loving their own baby is 2 much to bear. Support of the husband really helps here

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017

I have lived thru it! Awareness abt our condition is foremost.Overcoming is a again a process of its own. https://t.co/0ts45gHEdF

— Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017

@womensweb A very imp aspect of dealing with this is 2 inculcate a sense of self-care in women from early stages.

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

Taking one day at a time
Constant conversation with yourself
Allowing yourself rest & recreation
HELP FROM PARTNER https://t.co/4ORz6Bnoox

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

@womensweb @mamtatwits There have to be conversations around reviewing the “virtues” of motherhood. Mums’ mental health is an imp aspect

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

@womensweb yes, it is a key factor my patients are alerted to post delivery, as numerous undiagnosed patients can produce numerous tragedies

— dr. Deeba Abedi™ (@drdeebabedi) February 8, 2017

@sanghamitra_m @womensweb True. And it’s a mistake to think that nannies/helpers can help
Framework of emotional support is VITAL

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

Postpartum depression affects everyone — for some it’s more, for some it’s less

I don’t think so. Working women have double pressure, more anxiety especially if they’re very serious about their work. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/FzUnGaKOxB

— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) February 8, 2017

Absolutely not. Home-makers deal with the “Ghar pe rehti hai” mentality, which makes things worse. https://t.co/D9cA6w0ulT

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

@TarangSinha @womensweb #womenonthemove Yes,working moms have double trouble with self-doubt of working ability, agility et al

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

@womensweb I don’t think so that being a homemaker or a working mother makes a difference here #WomenOnTheMove

— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017

Very true, especially for women in nuclear families. Have gone through the painful phase after my mom, mom-in-law left month after delivery https://t.co/MFZNqkIuIF

— sanghamitra mazumdar (@sanghamitra_m) February 8, 2017

@womensweb A1 shouldn’t be the case,moms working or not are equally affected in the 1sr few months #WomenOnTheMove

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) February 8, 2017

@womensweb I don’t think so. I personally know someone who has a corporate job and went through it.

— Anupama Dalmia (@Anupama_Dalmia) February 8, 2017

Being one, I can say it https://t.co/ImUccNMt8O are in baby-mode the whole time. No breaks. No time to yourself.#WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/cU0rcFVo8F

— Varsh (@varshabagadia) February 8, 2017

Many say modern moms have it easy. Do they?

@womensweb @mamtatwits @TarangSinha “Modern moms” is a misnomer
They deal with traditional expectations AND manage personal aspirations

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

@womensweb #Womenonthemove Well, modern moms have it easy to an extent coz they dont get stressed even when surrounded by judging ppl

— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017

@womensweb YES. It is a heap of cultural expectations that blindsides the visceral, physical, excruciatingly painful aspect of childbirth

— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017

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