Sex Therapy and Psychotherapy for Pregnancy, Babies and Depression

Ideally, we associate pregnancy and having babies as a time of great joy and excitement.  We often see a pregnant women and refer to her as "glowing" and suggest that she is in the prime of their life.  And truly this is what pregnancy is all about: bringing life to this earth.  About 9 months later the bundle of joy arrives, and the pregnancy is over, now the real fun begins.  For most, having a baby should be filled with laughter and life but all too often this time may be clouded by sadness, anxiety and depression.

The stark reality is that there are many other factors governing this experience, and all too often the time which should be joy and excitement of the new baby’s birth can actually be an emotion roller coaster for new mothers. Many women experience postpartum depression, which can exist from mild baby blues that last from one week to ten days after the baby is born, and to full blown depressive episodes which can last weeks or months after the baby is born. Some form of "baby blues" is normal and expected. 

There are a number of reasons the "baby blues" may exist.  The two main reasons are: Hormone fluctuations create a chemical imbalance in your body and brain, the high levels of hormones that were characteristic of pregnancy are now crashing back to normal levels, dragging emotions around with them. Second, lifestyle change, the reality of having to be completely responsible for your new baby’s every need is a massive restriction of the relative freedom one may have enjoyed before your baby was born.  Women who also have a history of depression or mood disorder, or who have family members are at an increased risk for developing postpartum depression.  Women experiencing stressful home environment or relationships, or who have fussy babies or babies with health problems, women experiencing a late-term miscarriage or stillbirth (and thus not bringing home a baby), and women whose pregnancy was unplanned are also other potential reasons for postpartum depression.

Typically “baby blues” go away on their own within a few weeks or months. However, for some women (like those with higher risks as mentioned above) these blues can become more severe and long-term. Postpartum depression can occur anytime within six months of giving birth, and if left untreated, can last longer than one year. The symptoms of postpartum depression include:

• Irritability, sadness, hopelessness, or feeling overwhelmed
• Unwillingness or inability to care for the new baby
• Worthlessness or guilt
• Excessive crying
• Low sex desire
• Low energy 
• Too much or too little sleeping or eating
• Difficulty concentrating
• Desire to hurt oneself or the baby

Feeling mild sadness after giving birth is completely normal, and postpartum depressionusually resolves within 9 months following the birth of a baby.However, the feelings associated with postpartum depression can be sosevere as to interfere with your daily routines and make it difficultfor you to care for yourself and your baby. If so, psychotherapy,counseling, support groups, and antidepressant medications can be usedto treat postpartum depression. Speak to your doctor or therapist if you experienceany of the symptoms of postpartum depression for more than two weeks ina row, to find a combination of treatmentsthat will best help you recover your balance.  Treat yourself and your baby well!