Dealing with the Stress

Many women experience symptoms of emotional stress soon after delivery. Various factors contribute to these symptoms in women following the birth of a baby. According to doctors, women undergo depression because of the following reasons:

• Drop in estrogens: Depression following childbirth may be the result of rapid drop in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. The release of these hormones increase during pregnancy to help maintain the fertilized egg until the delivery of the baby. However, about 72 hours after delivery, progesterone levels drop radically in the new mother and are likely to trigger depression after birth.
  
  
• Decrease in endorphins: Endorphins are chemicals that are generally linked with the experience of “feeling good.” During pregnancy, there is a natural increase in endorphin levels in the body. Their decrease immediately after delivery can also cause depression in new mothers.

Some other factors that could influence depression in women include:

• A difficult pregnancy or childbirth
  
  
• Marital problems such as a troubled relationship
  
  
• Disruption in sleep patterns as a result of caring for the baby
  
  
• Feeling of loss regarding pregnancy

If your spouse is suffering from depression following childbirth, it is important for you to realize that:

• It is not your partner’s fault.
  
  
• It does not mean that she is incapable of being a good mother.