NEGAUNEE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WLUC) – Health experts are sharing tips to spot postpartum depression in new mothers.
According to the American Hospital Association, about 1 in 5 women experience a maternal mental health condition after childbirth.
Hormonal changes, physical recovery and lack of sleep can affect mood, making tearfulness, irritability and worry common in the early days. Experts say it is important to recognize when common emotional changes signal something more serious.
“Just feeling very disengaged with the things going on around you and no desire to do the things that they typically would, that they typically do enjoy, maybe isolating, not wanting friends over, their family, their support group, if they’re not wanting any of that, those are very big signals that something is wrong and might be becoming more serious,” Aspirus Health Behavioral Health Nurse Colleen Rathbun said.
The owner of U.P. Family Doula Care, Lacy Anderson, says a recent study of new mothers in the U.P. shows post-childbirth depression is more common than you might think.
“That collected almost 450 moms here in the U.P., and 75 percent of moms reported that they are experiencing loneliness, 80 percent of moms had said that they feel depressed or anxiety ever since having a baby,” Anderson said.
To combat that, Anderson says doulas offer help after childbirth.
“Doulas are there to help connect you to all of the different resources, also we can come in, we can hold that space for you. We can do the laundry, we can do the dishes, we can vacuum the floor and just take care of those little tasks so that you can just sit there and hold onto your baby,” Anderson said.
New mothers with concerns about their emotional health are encouraged to talk with a primary care provider, OB‑GYN or behavioral health professional.
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