POST NATAL BLUES

POST NATAL/POST PARTUM BLUES
Nike just had a baby after 8 years on waiting on the Lord.She was very happy her prayers had been answered. She bought all sort of baby things. As the first grandchild of both families there was so much fuss about the baby. Come delivery, everything went smoothly. Two days after the baby was born, Nike found herself irritated at the whole world, she sobbed for no reason. Got lost in thoughts. Nike was totally baffled as she was wondering why she wasn't overjoyed about the birth of her child. What Nike did not understand was she may have had post natal blues.

POST NATAL BLUES.
Postpartum simply means after delivery. Post partum blues is a very common thing. It occurs in almost 7 out of every 10 women who just put to bed. Its a bit distressing especially for new mothers who expect to be ecstatic and elated about the newly born. They find themselves tearful, cranky and a bit confused. For those who know, "its that what the heck is all this" you had after your baby. It is different from post partum depression in its intensity and duration. very simply put although not very correct, its a very mild form of depression after you put to bed.

To define it, Postpartum blues is a brief psychological disturbance, characterized by tearfulness, mood swings and confusion in mothers occurring in the first few days after childbirth lasting about 1-2 days. The new mother feels worried about her baby, anxious, unable to concentrate, tired and unable to sleep and tearful for no apparent reason.


HOW OFTEN DOES IT OCCUR?
It occurs in about 50%-75% of women commonest at the third to fifth day post delivery


CAUSES
There is no particular cause.

It is thought to be linked to hormonal changes that happen during the week giving birth. The body gradually returns to pre-pregnancy state.
Postnatal blues has been positively associated with:
1. Poor social adjustment: Having no friend or support system. No one to turn to in need of distress
2. poor marital relationship: difficulty with one's spouse
3. fear of labour
4. anxious and depressed mood during pregnancy.

There is no association between the development of postnatal blues and life events so its not a reaction to stressful things occurring around time of delivery, nor social class or obstetric factors.


HOW LONG DOES IT LAST FOR?
Post natal blues is not an illness. It resolves over a few days.


TREATMENT
There is no treatment per se as it's transient.
What can be done to help a new mother include
Reassuring the mother. Tell her she is a good mum.
Listening to her
Helping her out. In Nigeria, where the mother in law comes to stay as part of tradition, most might be an extra burden because you might have to cook and clean after them
Limit visitors. Its a joyous event but we know most babies are awake at night. A new mother sleeps when the baby is asleep and that is during the day. So visitors interrupt those precious few hours of sleep you get.


N.B
The summary of the medical jargons is post natal blues is very common. About half to two-thirds of all women experience it. So if you find yourself unduly teary, irritable after delivery it might be this.
But post natal blues is transient lasting 1-2days. It lasts less than a week. If you however find yourself feeling this way for a long period of time ( over 2 weeks, please see your doctor)