Postpartum Depression: Childbirth Experts Help Break The Stigma

Pregnancy, the postpartum period, followed by parenting presents a multitude of challenges for many women and their partners. Following the birth of a baby, emotions stir between excitement and joy, to fear, anxiety and lastly depression. This includes mood swings, cry spells, continuous anxiety and trouble sleeping.

With emotions being on a rise, many new moms who experience postpartum feel "mom guilt" and find it better to silence themselves. According to the Mayo Clinic, 3 million women in the us experience postpartum depression. Out of those 3 million women, more than half go undetected or undiagnosed because the new mother may be unwilling to reveal how she is feeling to her family and/or provider. PPD is often overlooked by health care providers, states Beck, from The American Journal Of Nursing.

Signs of the "baby blues" typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery, and may last for up to two weeks. But some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression.

Many childbirth educators express the necessity of hiring a Postpartum Doula to support and educate moms in need. The ICEA states there are 11 domains that postpartum doulas provide; 1. Emotional support 2. Physical comfort 3. Self-care 4. Infant care 5. Informational support 6. Advocacy 7. Referrals 8. Partner/father support 9. Support mother/father with infant 10. Support mother/father with sibling(s) and lastly, 11. Household organization.

We at Happy Baby recommend either support from a Postpartum Doula and/or joining a community of moms to connect with. A Postpartum Doula is typically hired prior to the birth of the child and goes to the families home as soon as the mother is released from the hospital. Those who can benefit most from a Postpartum Doula are women that need that extra hand and are guaranteed to find the best at Happy Baby.