Motherhood is the most precious crown a woman can wear, yet it comes with many challenges. We, as the Rotaract club of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, hope to support pregnant mothers by raising awareness and providing knowledge about Postpartum Depression through the Project MAATHA 7.0
So, what exactly is Postpartum Depression? It is a type of depression that can occur after childbirth. Postpartum depression can be caused by the rapid hormonal changes, lack of sleep, lack of support from others, and a mother’s worry about being a good parent, along with the sudden transition into the role of motherhood. Unlike the common and self-limiting Baby Blues (Maternal Blues), which go away with the support from family, PPD is more severe and requires proper treatment.
It is important to recognize the difference between Baby blues and PPD. Compared to PPD, Baby blues is a temporary condition. It’s common to have baby blues after childbirth, especially for Primi mothers (new mothers). Symptoms of baby blues can include sudden mood changes, feeling overwhelmed, crying spells, and trouble sleeping. But this condition usually subsides with family support and doesn’t need medical treatment.
On the other hand, PPD is more intense and it lasts longer. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of PPD is the first step to healing. Symptoms of Postpartum Depression:
- Persistent sadness or low mood
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Changes in appetite
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Severe Anxiety
- Loss of interest in hobbies you once enjoyed
- Trouble sleeping or wanting to sleep all the time
- Crying for no reason or excessively
- Difficulty thinking or focusing
- Thoughts of self-harm or harming the baby
Remember, postpartum depression is not a sign of weakness; it’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s a medical condition that needs professional help.
After recognizing the symptoms, proper diagnosis and treatment are essential. In the Sri Lankan context, when midwives conduct home visits after childbirth, they also assess the mental well-being of the mother. They do a depression screening to assess if the mother has PPD. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale is a scale that can be used to screen postpartum depression. It consists of 10 questions. A higher score indicates possible postpartum depression, and the mother should be referred for proper treatment.
Postpartum depression can be treated in many ways, including,
- Medication – Anti-anxiety / antidepressant medicines
- Psychotherapy – Talk therapy with professional counselors
- Support group participation – Connecting with other mothers who are facing similar situations
Even though PPD cannot be prevented entirely, there are many ways that we can take to reduce the risk. Here are some tips that can help prevent postpartum depression.
- Be kind to yourself and don’t expect perfection.
- Rest when you can.
- Asking for help from your loved ones.
- Limit visitors in the early days.
- Stay active and try doing some exercises /take a walk
- Stay connected with your friends and family.
- Spend time with your partner and share how you’re feeling.
- Find time for self-care and doing things you enjoy.
Motherhood is a beautiful journey filled with moments of joy and love. Yet, it’s also a path that can bring challenges, including the experience of postpartum depression. It’s important to remember that PPD is a common condition that affects many mothers worldwide. So this is not a sign of weakness; it’s a medical condition that requires attention and care. As the Rotaract Club of the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo, our initiative, Project MAATHA 7.0, is dedicated to raising awareness about postpartum depression and providing essential education. We are here to remind you that “from pregnancy to parenthood, you are not alone.”
Penned by: Rtr. Janushi Amarasekara
Rotaract Club of Faculty of Law University of Colombo 