Am I more at risk for postpartum depression after delivery of my child?

Illustration accompanying Am I more at risk for postpartum depression after delivery of my child?

Why am I feeling so sad or anxious?

The first few weeks after birth are exciting and challenging. It is a time of big changes as you bring your infant home, get to know them, learn how to feed, bathe, and carry them. You also need to adjust to disrupted sleep patterns, manage your physical recovery after the birth, and try to find time for your own daily living and self-care needs (such as eating, dressing, toileting, bathing, etc.). Breastfeeding when you have a SCI can sometimes make some, or all, of these

activities feel more challenging.

You may feel joy and excitement, but also feel sad, worried, or just be overwhelmed. This is understandable in the first few weeks after birth for any mother. This roller coaster of emotions is sometimes called “baby blues” and typically lasts a few days or up to a week or two. However, if the difficult feelings last longer and begin to impact your ability to participate in day-to-day activities, this can be a sign of what is called Postpartum Depression. Postpartum Depression can involve feeling sad, down, or crying easily but it can also sometimes feel like being worried, agitated, anxious, or an overwhelming fear that something awful is about to happen. Women with SCI are at higher risk for Postpartum Depression and anxiety due to several factors including:

  • Mental health concerns prior to pregnancy,
  • The stress of coping with multiple physical challenges during pregnancy and/or after the birth,
  • Worry about other peoples’ opinions or judgments,
  • Struggling with pre-existing fatigue related to SCI and the extra energy required to complete routine tasks as well as new onset fatigue due to baby caregiving needs,
  • Limited access to knowledgeable caregivers or peers who understand the unique joys and challenges of parenting with a SCI,
  • Possible other factors we do not yet know or understand.
    Whatever you are feeling, you are not alone. You are important and valued. Help is available. Talk to your partner, loved ones, or health care providers about your feelings and worries. If needed, immediate help is available 24/7 from local crisis phone lines, Urgent Care Centres or Emergency Departments. With support, many women soon begin to feel their mood improve, their anxiety lessen, feel more attached to their baby, and begin to experience many more positive moments of parenting as they learn tools to help cope with the hard times.

Recommendations:

  • Learn about the signs, symptoms, and resources related to postpartum depression and anxiety, so you, your partner, your family, and your care aides will recognize when extra assistance may be necessary.
  • Talk to your health care providers, seek out information from trusted websites online or connect with local community groups that support new parents.
  • Share this information with your partner, a friend or a family member, or a health care provider during your pregnancy or after baby has arrived. Sometimes we need a bit of help to reach out for the services we need when we are feeling sad or anxious.
  • Watch your mood during pregnancy and after birth and notice any changes in feelings of sadness or worry. Are these feelings improving or getting worse? Are they lasting longer than they did in the past?
  • Know that feelings of sadness or anxiety happen to lots of people. You are not a failure and you are not alone.
  • Help is available 24/7. Accessing help can relieve pressure and often make a big difference in how you are feeling.