Things need to know about postpartum psychological changes

Maternity depression appears in the postpartum period. Insufficient postpartum care and treatment can negatively affect women’s psychology, their life and family, and even threaten the lives of mothers and babies.

What is the meaning of maternity depression?

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Chinh - a psychologist expert of the project “For Mother and Baby - For Vietnamese stature”, she said, maternity depression is a state of psychological disorder often appearing in the postpartum period, manifested by 4 main symptoms: Negative perception, Sadness and fatigue, Decline in physical mobility, and Physiological disorders.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Chinh - a psychologist expert of “For Mother and Baby - For Vietnamese stature” project spoke about maternity depression for workers in Hai Phong

The manifestation of negative perception is inhibited and slow thinking, lack of concentration, the decline in the ability to judge, analyze, solve problems. In severe symptoms, they maybe have the feelings of being accused or listen to a virtual voice denouncing sins. Meanwhile, negative emotions such as sadness, fatigue, loss of interest may appear. It also makes a woman feel guilty or ashamed because she thinks that she is not a good mother as she expected.

Abnormal behavior occurs in postpartum period such as non-communication, irritability, conflict or violence; not doing exercise more often and practicing body hygiene. Besides, if mothers suffer from sleep disorders, eating, gaining weight, or losing weight after giving birth, their family should also pay more attention because maternity depression may have occurred.

The cause of maternity depression

The first reason of depression is physical changes when mothers’ body has a sudden drop in hormone levels, fatigue, physical pain during pregnancy and childbirth, postpartum complications. These changes cause fatigue and unstable psychological feelings for mothers. Hence, their feelings are effortless to get depressed, have feelings of self-pity, and cry more often as well.

The pressure of motherhood requires women to take a lot of new responsibility from eating, hygiene and sleeping for children, and so on. These things take a wide range of time and energy from mothers. Especially, for the first time taking care of children, it is also a difficult time for mothers to arrange a reasonable time without the support of relatives. Disagreement about how to take care of children (if any) in the family also makes mothers feel more stressed.

Proactively seeking information and maintaining a positive lifestyle will help reduce the risk of maternity depression

Sometimes, the inherent factors in a mother's personality inadvertently create a more conducive environment for the development conditions of depression such as perfectionism, anxiety, pressure, the lack of ability to relieve depression and deal with stress. Some of women in postpartum period, who are not received sympathy, understanding, and sharing by their relatives, will also be led by many psychological impacts, insomnia and worry about the ability to take care of their children. 

The role of the family, especially their husband

In general, in recent days, thanks to the mass media, information about maternity depression has been made more well-known. However, many people only know the appearance of this disease but do not understand the causes or specific manifestations. They even misunderstand that if women feel depressed, the reason behind this is definitely because they have a lack of money or weakness. Therefore, people, who have pregnant women in their family, should learn about maternity depression to share with themselves and their loved ones.

Sharing from family, especially their husband, will help woman reduce the pressure of taking care of their children

Mothers should observe and feel the changes in their body, emotional state, and behavior for timely adjustments. When mothers are struggling to arrange time to take care of their children without getting enough sleep, member families can help them have some rest and recover by taking care of the newborn baby.

Talking and sharing with friends, family, and psychologists can help mothers get rid of fatigue. Besides, mothers should maintain a positive psychological life, positive thinking, and do not let boredom affects psychology.

It is very significant of the husbands’ role to be the closest person in taking care of their children with their wives. A man should participate in prenatal experience classes with his wife to understand more about her difficulties, learn how to take care of children, share, sympathize, motivate, precisely recognize his wife difficulties and help her to relieve stress.

Besides, it is excited to create a comfortable and fun atmosphere in the family; considerate attention from meals and sleep; have positive words and expressions to share with mothers in the hardships of taking care of children. It will help mothers reduce the psychological burden and avoid the problems of depression.

As anticipated in phase 4 of “For Mother and Baby - For Vietnamese stature” project, there will be at least 3,000 workers to be equipped with more useful knowledge on health care.

In recent days, in the framework of phase 4 of “For Mother and Baby - For Vietnamese stature” project, Dr. Nguyen Thi Chinh has participated in communication sessions for thousands of workers in industrial zones in Hai Phong on taking care mental health and preventing postpartum depression.

The project has implemented by For Vietnamese Stature Foundation in collaboration with Hai Phong Labor Federation and Hai Phong Women Union. This year, the project continues to receive sponsorship from TH Group, DKT International and Golden Choice Co., Ltd. with the products of Newchoice contraceptive pills & OK condoms and gifts from Hoa Linh Pharmaceutical Company and UCARE sanitary napkin.

Dr. Chinh said: “Workers in industrial zones should be aware of the risk of maternity depression because working in factories has many factors that can stress their psychology such as strictly regulated time, a noisy workplace, the requirement of concentration and discipline in work, and so on. Meanwhile, maternity can affect health, change emotions and reduce their concentration. Therefore, workers need to know how to prevent and overcome to protect mental and physical health for themselves and their children as well as maintain the efficiency of their work”.

Reference: Vietnamese Women

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