The postpartum depression is a condition that occurs due to changes in hormone levels during and after the pregnancy and affect the mood of women. In addition, there are more factors that can alter the mood during this stage, which are:

    • Changes in the body due to pregnancy and childbirth .
    • Changes in social relationships .
    • Staying unemployed for a while (that is, outside the workplace).
    • Lack of sleep .
    • Accumulated tiredness .
    • Not having the same freedom as before.
    • Have less time .
  • Concerns about being a good mother .

In addition, you may be more likely to suffer from postpartum depression in cases that:

    • Be less than 20 years old.
    • Consume alcohol or illegal substances (which also cause serious dangers for the baby).
    • Smoke.
    • The pregnancy was not planned and feelings of miscarriage were felt at some point.
    • Depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorder previously had of pregnancy or a previous pregnancy .
    • Live a stressful event such as: the death of a family member, an emergency delivery or a premature birth among others.
    • Having a close family member who has experienced depression or anxiety.
    • Bad relationship with the baby’s father .
    • Financial problems .
  • Little support from the family and the closest circle including the baby’s father.

Differences between natural birth and cesarean delivery

    • The first clear difference is pain . A cesarean section is not the same , since it is a surgical operation that removes all the pain than a natural delivery. It is carried out with spinal anesthesia that in a few minutes causes the sensory block.
    • The second is about experience . While a natural birth the baby is born through the vagina and is considered a unique experience, the cesarean delivery is left all in the hands of the health workers.
    • Recovery . Cesarean section does not cause injury to the perineum, which can happen in a vaginal delivery .
  • For the baby . The experience of being born vaginally is more progressive than if it is done by cesarean section. The passage from warm and dark amniotic fluid to cold and surgical light occurs in a more abrupt way and the adaptation of the newborn is more traumatic for this reason, in caesarean section.

Is a cesarean delivery more likely to suffer from postpartum depression?

When the delivery has a greater instrumentalization intervention such as caesarean section, it makes the woman more likely to suffer postpartum depression. To be exact, it affects 6.8% of women compared to 5.6% who have a natural birth, according to a report by Servei Catalá de la Salut . Postpartum depression by cesarean section is also encouraged by the consumption of drugs , (more than double) in people who have a cesarean delivery compared to a totally natural delivery. The numbers speak for themselves.

In some cases, cesarean section is a consequence , since the delivery needs an accompaniment. If it goes out of the traditional way so to speak, it can affect the mother in her later recovery. The performance of the midwife is important both before and after delivery so that there is an affective bond between the mother and her in order to also avoid postpartum depression. It can be said that it is a great help when it comes to the pregnancy process and everything that comes after it. The figure of the midwife is very important.

How to avoid postpartum depression

For some women having a baby can have that contradictory feeling that can trigger depression but can be prevented if you act correctly. In these cases , social , family and partner support (in the case of having it) is essential, because it can be the antidote to this terrible disease . The people closest to the woman can even prevent it from appearing, that is, support is essential and acts as an important buffer against all the negative that the woman may feel.

Also, adjusting expectations to reality is essential to avoid falling into postpartum depression . You have to be aware that not everything is advertised, that is, of course being a mother is a wonderful experience, but it also has some cons that must be accepted with total naturalness since, for example, the fatigue that one has in the first years of The baby’s life decreases over time , and there can always be someone to help you so that the mother can rest and recharge the batteries. The fact that there may be hard times does not make you a bad mother, they are totally normal things and circumstances. Motherhood should not be idealized .

On the other hand, after childbirth, life changes radically , so if a new reorganization of time has not been done, it must be done to be able to manage everything from another perspective that escapes perfectionism.

Elle Mcdonald

I am Elle Mcdonald Specializations in Psychology . Graduated in psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2000. Diploma of Advanced Studies in the Department of Personality, Evaluation and psychological treatments with excellent results.

First Level of Master in Clinical Psychology at the Center for Behavioral Therapists (recognized with a scientific-professional nature by the College of Psychologists)

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