What is Postpartum Depression?
Are sadness and worry keeping you from the joy of connecting with and caring for your baby? If you’ve recently given birth and now find that being a new mom is nothing like you’d expected or hoped it would be, you’re not alone. “Postpartum” means the time after childbirth. Most women get the “baby blues,” or feel sad or empty, within a few days of giving birth. For many women, the baby blues go away within a few weeks. If your “baby blues” don't go away or you feel sad, hopeless, anxious and have trouble sleeping for longer than 2 weeks, you may have postpartum depression (or PPD). This is a severe form of depression related to pregnancy and childbirth.
You might feel on-edge, nervous and worried about all of the things that could happen to your newborn. Perhaps you have a million fearful thoughts running thoughts your head, making it impossible to relax and feel at ease with your new child. It can be difficult to distinguish between the typical “baby blues” and the signs of postpartum depression and anxiety. And, if you are the newborn’s father, you may wonder if postpartum depression in men is real. But, whether mother or father, if you are struggling to care for your child or yourself, it may be that something more serious than transitional growing pains is happening.
Postpartum depression and anxiety are medical conditions, and although they can be serious, you don’t have to feel this way forever. By working with a skilled, compassionate postpartum therapist, you can cultivate acceptance, relief and connection with your newborn.
We are here to help
As a postpartum specialist, Ajit Kalayil offers complete acceptance and nonjudgmental support, and his office is a safe place for you to express exactly what you’re going through, no matter how dark or frightening it may seem to you right now. The signs of postpartum depression and anxiety can be alarming. At Kalayil Psychiatry, we will develop a strategy that works best for you. Our goal is to help you restore calm in moments of panic and anxiety, relief from pressing symptoms and let go of any feelings of shame or guilt.
Remember, postpartum depression is a medical condition. It has nothing to do with your character, how good a mother you are, or how much you love your baby. It’s just like any other health problem -- you need care in order to get better.