Postpartum Psychology
Postpartum Period
The puerperal postpartum period, which is determined as the first period after birth, is a time that lasts for 40 days (6 weeks), and within which, the changing hormones of the mother during the pregnancy period return to their former state, and this hormone change, together with the feeling of motherhood, can sometimes cause puerperal depression.
Postpartum puerperium is one of the weakest periods of the woman, and the hormones try to switch to normal. In the absence of family support during this process, sleep problems may occur along with the chronic state of tension in the mother, and in some people, symptoms of serious mental illness, which we call “postpartum psychosis”, may be encountered.
Psychotherapy support is important in this period, and breastfeeding, eliminating the first fears of motherhood, and establishing a new order at home will be important. The emotional changes seen in 70% of women in the two weeks after giving birth, called Maternal Sorrow, as well as the increase in stress hormones, carry the risk of triggering this process and turning it into depression. ,
The Process of Accepting the Transition to Motherhood
After the birth of the child, serotonin, the happiness hormone, may decrease in the woman’s brain, and cortisol, the stress hormone, may increase. In mothers who are alone, “I will not be able to take care of my child!, If his breathing stops, etc.” fears may occur.
It is very important not to leave the woman alone in the first six weeks of motherhood. The woman can recover in six weeks, provided she can sleep.
It can be a difficult period of acceptance for the woman who sees that she is now a mother by entering a new process in her life and realizes that her life will go in a different direction from the old order. It can be difficult to take on the responsibility of being a mother, the person says, “I can’t be a mother.” or “I will be a bad mother.” You may have negative thoughts such as
Change in Life Order
It is necessary to be prepared for the changes in order, the increase in responsibility and the increase of possible conflicts, the decrease in the time devoted to romantic relationships and personal care, and even the feeling of anger that may occur against the child from time to time, with the participation of a new individual in home life. The effect of individuals such as grandparents who come to help at home in the change of home order, communication problems experienced, being grateful to those who help, as well as the feeling of being restricted in freedom can force the parties.
During and after the puerperium, the help of the father is very important. The risk of developing postpartum depression is quite high for the mother, who undertakes all the house and baby chores alone, and if the mother is supported, the process will be easier to overcome and the relationship between the spouses will be positively invested in the long run.
Difference Between Postpartum (Postpartum) Depression and Postpartum/Maternity Sadness:
Postpartum Depression occurs within 4 weeks after birth and is a longer and more severe course compared to maternity blues, which is considered as an atypical depression. Postpartum/Motherhood Sadness is a condition that is seen with mild distress from 1-2 days to 1-2 weeks, with a frequency of 50-85% in people who have given birth, and that requires psychological support as soon as possible if the troubles last longer than 2 weeks.
When the problems in the postpartum period exceed 2 weeks, or when the level of distress is intense, therapy support should be taken before the situation progresses quickly. In cases where the mother does not realize that she needs psychological support, family relatives should be supportive in planning a doctor’s consultation on this issue.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression-Postpartum/Maternity Blues:
(Those highlighted in bold do not usually appear in maternity/postpartum blues.)
- Feelings of worthlessness, inadequacy, insecurity, helplessness about oneself
- introversion
- Anxiety
- Feelings of guilt, crying attacks
- Slowness in movement and speech, or vice versa, hyperactivity
- appetite, sleep disorders,
- Forgetfulness,
- emotional ups and downs,
- Decreased concentration and decision-making ability, grief,
- Loss of sexual desire,
- Thoughts about death and suicide
- feeling of anger,
- Intense hopelessness, loneliness, loss of control, fear of going crazy, finding life meaningless,
- Indifference towards the baby, excessive worrying about the baby, thoughts about harming the baby
Sexuality in the Postpartum
By thinking about problems such as child responsibility, housework, insomnia, the effort to settle the new order, and the frequent crying of the baby, the mother, whose stress increases, may become unable to think about anything other than these issues, even when she is in a period when she can hardly fulfill her individual needs such as the bathroom. may be delayed, the demand may decrease.
According to researches, a mother who suffers from irritation in the vaginal area after giving birth or from sewing pain due to cesarean delivery may also feel uneasy. Understanding the woman’s situation should be the first step.
Since the hormonal changes that occur in the mother after pregnancy will return to normal at the end of 6 weeks, ie 40 days, it is recommended not to have sexual intercourse during the puerperium period. In 6 weeks after birth, the genital organs return to their original state. Although it is not recommended to have sexual intercourse during this period, it can be allowed after 6 weeks after the doctor’s control.
At the beginning of the problems experienced during sexual intercourse during this period, besides the fact that the woman has not yet completed her hormonal changes, the changes in the genital organs can cause severe pain during sexual intercourse. In addition to the fact that the woman is not stimulated during intercourse due to sexual reluctance, and therefore she experiences dryness, the sensitivity in the birth incision area of the woman who gives birth is important. Since the stitched area is not fully healed and the sensitivity in this area may cause pain during sexual intercourse, it is recommended that couples act carefully in the light of this information.
Postpartum Psychosis
Psychosis, which is the most severe form of the postpartum period; It is a severe picture that can lead to thought disorder and hallucinations. In this process, the mother must receive psychological support and, if necessary, drug support.
The fact that the mother is overly obsessed, sometimes claiming to hear and see things that are not real, may cause her to act overprotective of the baby. It is also possible for the mother to approach her baby with fear because she thinks that she may harm her baby at any moment.
In case of these symptoms, it is absolutely necessary to seek the help of a specialist. Otherwise, there are attempts to commit suicide in such cases. Depending on the degree of the conditions, it may be possible for the mother who has psychological problems to be hospitalized for approximately 2-3 weeks of therapy.
Postpartum Recommendations
- Give yourself, your partner and your baby time to get used to this process, try to be patient.
- The most important issue in this period is to increase the support and empathy of people to each other.
- To strengthen your bond with your baby, keep your skin in contact with his or hers, even if you’re bottle feeding.
- As a wife and family friend, comfort the postpartum mother, help her get rid of her anxiety.
- Try to keep the excitement of your married life by making little surprises for the mother.
- Be prepared for the mother’s sudden emotional and extreme reactions, do not criticize.
- Omega 3 etc. Reward yourself by taking care of taking the necessary vitamins, creating opportunities and spending time under the sunlight, even if it’s for a short time, by taking a coffee break with a friend you love.
- Be in open communication, try to express your wishes and discomforts in calm environments without accumulating, offending.
- Manage crisis moments with control, remind yourself that they are temporary, and remember that destructive speech and attitudes in girl moments will not gain you or your family anything in the long run.
- Try to get psychotherapy support, learn how you can approach events and problems more analytically, both for yourself and for other family members.
