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Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that new mothers often face. It can occur in the weeks or months following child birth.
Studies suggest that almost a quarter of women suffer from postpartum depression in the first year of giving birth. However, it won’t be surprising if the real numbers are higher than this. Postnatal depression is often missed, misjudged or misdiagnosed.
The feeling of being trapped in an unending loop of chores, broken sleep, and an overwhelming sense of responsibility sometimes becomes too overbearing for a new mother. Some of the common symptoms of postpartum depression include feeling low, tired and lethargic, inadequate, irritable, tearful and unable to cope, loss of appetite, insomnia etc.
Childbirth may be natural, but that doesn’t usually mean it is easy. On one hand new mothers struggle to cope up with the radical change in their lives and on the other societal and cultural expectations of embracing motherhood with an overwhelming feeling of love since day one, fuels the inhibiting sense of loss and makes it hard to reveal unhappiness.
In our weekly #WomenOnTheMove chat over at Twitter, this week we discussed how postpartum depression or post natal depression affects women and what can be done to address this problem. Read on to find out.
(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Wednesday 6-7 PM IST).
Why postpartum depression is a difficult subject to diagnose and address?
@womensweb Oh yes, not many women know about this, even gynaecologist don’t discuss it after delivery #WomenOnTheMoveNever miss real stories from India's women.Register Now — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017
@womensweb Oh yes, not many women know about this, even gynaecologist don’t discuss it after delivery #WomenOnTheMove
— Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017
@womensweb Q1 – Unfortunately,Yes.Insecurity,emotional weakness, etc creeps in #WomenOnTheMove — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb Q1 – Unfortunately,Yes.Insecurity,emotional weakness, etc creeps in #WomenOnTheMove
— Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @SummiGambhir It’s one of those things that r considered “natural” baby blues but the spectrum of post-partum illnesses is large — Swarnima (@SwarnsB) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @SummiGambhir It’s one of those things that r considered “natural” baby blues but the spectrum of post-partum illnesses is large
— Swarnima (@SwarnsB) February 8, 2017
It’s not just post-partum depression but also the acute fear of pregnancy and childbirth that needs to be recognized https://t.co/dHT9urSODr — Swarnima (@SwarnsB) February 8, 2017
It’s not just post-partum depression but also the acute fear of pregnancy and childbirth that needs to be recognized https://t.co/dHT9urSODr
@womensweb A big yes. Just yesterday had a long discussion about it with a friend who ended up making fun of it. Many think it’s not real. — Anupama Dalmia (@Anupama_Dalmia) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A big yes. Just yesterday had a long discussion about it with a friend who ended up making fun of it. Many think it’s not real.
— Anupama Dalmia (@Anupama_Dalmia) February 8, 2017
@womensweb totally….a new mom is expected to know all abt her baby n be happy all the time.no need to rest n why be sad when u have baby — asfiyarahman (@doonwriter) February 8, 2017
@womensweb totally….a new mom is expected to know all abt her baby n be happy all the time.no need to rest n why be sad when u have baby
— asfiyarahman (@doonwriter) February 8, 2017
I never suffered but have seen friends fight it… A tough challenge #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/WfGfmW6EyA — EloquentArticulation (@indywrites) February 8, 2017
I never suffered but have seen friends fight it… A tough challenge #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/WfGfmW6EyA
— EloquentArticulation (@indywrites) February 8, 2017
@womensweb hv seen friends go through it, the guilt of not loving their own baby is 2 much to bear. Support of the husband really helps here — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017
@womensweb hv seen friends go through it, the guilt of not loving their own baby is 2 much to bear. Support of the husband really helps here
@womensweb Q2.my friend cud nt accept the sweet cutie n was yelling “i cant handle this thing”.Its too big a responsibility for a new mom.. — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb Q2.my friend cud nt accept the sweet cutie n was yelling “i cant handle this thing”.Its too big a responsibility for a new mom..
Completely agree…I have been through this depression phase for not months but couple of years! #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/POg0uNET4c — Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017
Completely agree…I have been through this depression phase for not months but couple of years! #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/POg0uNET4c
— Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017
@womensweb #Womenonthemove Yes,harsh reality is so.Anything nt happng right,directly blamed on mother,u don wanna feed ur baby,so no milk — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb #Womenonthemove Yes,harsh reality is so.Anything nt happng right,directly blamed on mother,u don wanna feed ur baby,so no milk
@womensweb @sakshi2487 In this context, V. important to consider the situation of single mothers. Post-partum illnesses often manifest later — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @sakshi2487 In this context, V. important to consider the situation of single mothers. Post-partum illnesses often manifest later
— Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A2 have seen someone go through it with near fatal consequences #WomenOnTheMove — Lata S (@lsunil) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A2 have seen someone go through it with near fatal consequences #WomenOnTheMove
— Lata S (@lsunil) February 8, 2017
@womensweb #womenonthemove I recall bursting into tears when slipped a leg of my 3 day old baby while picking her from bed to my lap — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb #womenonthemove I recall bursting into tears when slipped a leg of my 3 day old baby while picking her from bed to my lap
@lsunil One of the most confusing phases of a woman’s life after adolescence and before Menopause.Sigh ! #WomenOnTheMove @womensweb — Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017
@lsunil One of the most confusing phases of a woman’s life after adolescence and before Menopause.Sigh ! #WomenOnTheMove @womensweb
A friend had family support and spoke about it extensively #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/I4tWNXAX4D — EloquentArticulation (@indywrites) February 8, 2017
A friend had family support and spoke about it extensively #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/I4tWNXAX4D
I have lived thru it! Awareness abt our condition is foremost.Overcoming is a again a process of its own. https://t.co/0ts45gHEdF — Meenakshi (@polkajunction) February 8, 2017
I have lived thru it! Awareness abt our condition is foremost.Overcoming is a again a process of its own. https://t.co/0ts45gHEdF
@womensweb A very imp aspect of dealing with this is 2 inculcate a sense of self-care in women from early stages. — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A very imp aspect of dealing with this is 2 inculcate a sense of self-care in women from early stages.
Taking one day at a time Constant conversation with yourself Allowing yourself rest & recreation HELP FROM PARTNER https://t.co/4ORz6Bnoox — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
Taking one day at a time Constant conversation with yourself Allowing yourself rest & recreation HELP FROM PARTNER https://t.co/4ORz6Bnoox
@womensweb @mamtatwits There have to be conversations around reviewing the “virtues” of motherhood. Mums’ mental health is an imp aspect — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @mamtatwits There have to be conversations around reviewing the “virtues” of motherhood. Mums’ mental health is an imp aspect
@womensweb yes, it is a key factor my patients are alerted to post delivery, as numerous undiagnosed patients can produce numerous tragedies — dr. Deeba Abedi™ (@drdeebabedi) February 8, 2017
@womensweb yes, it is a key factor my patients are alerted to post delivery, as numerous undiagnosed patients can produce numerous tragedies
— dr. Deeba Abedi™ (@drdeebabedi) February 8, 2017
@sanghamitra_m @womensweb True. And it’s a mistake to think that nannies/helpers can help Framework of emotional support is VITAL — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@sanghamitra_m @womensweb True. And it’s a mistake to think that nannies/helpers can help Framework of emotional support is VITAL
I don’t think so. Working women have double pressure, more anxiety especially if they’re very serious about their work. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/FzUnGaKOxB — Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) February 8, 2017
I don’t think so. Working women have double pressure, more anxiety especially if they’re very serious about their work. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/FzUnGaKOxB
— Tarang Sinha (@TarangSinha) February 8, 2017
Absolutely not. Home-makers deal with the “Ghar pe rehti hai” mentality, which makes things worse. https://t.co/D9cA6w0ulT — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
Absolutely not. Home-makers deal with the “Ghar pe rehti hai” mentality, which makes things worse. https://t.co/D9cA6w0ulT
@TarangSinha @womensweb #womenonthemove Yes,working moms have double trouble with self-doubt of working ability, agility et al — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@TarangSinha @womensweb #womenonthemove Yes,working moms have double trouble with self-doubt of working ability, agility et al
@womensweb I don’t think so that being a homemaker or a working mother makes a difference here #WomenOnTheMove — Sakshi Dutt (@sakshi2487) February 8, 2017
@womensweb I don’t think so that being a homemaker or a working mother makes a difference here #WomenOnTheMove
Very true, especially for women in nuclear families. Have gone through the painful phase after my mom, mom-in-law left month after delivery https://t.co/MFZNqkIuIF — sanghamitra mazumdar (@sanghamitra_m) February 8, 2017
Very true, especially for women in nuclear families. Have gone through the painful phase after my mom, mom-in-law left month after delivery https://t.co/MFZNqkIuIF
— sanghamitra mazumdar (@sanghamitra_m) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A1 shouldn’t be the case,moms working or not are equally affected in the 1sr few months #WomenOnTheMove — Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) February 8, 2017
@womensweb A1 shouldn’t be the case,moms working or not are equally affected in the 1sr few months #WomenOnTheMove
— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) February 8, 2017
@womensweb I don’t think so. I personally know someone who has a corporate job and went through it. — Anupama Dalmia (@Anupama_Dalmia) February 8, 2017
@womensweb I don’t think so. I personally know someone who has a corporate job and went through it.
Being one, I can say it https://t.co/ImUccNMt8O are in baby-mode the whole time. No breaks. No time to yourself.#WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/cU0rcFVo8F — Varsh (@varshabagadia) February 8, 2017
Being one, I can say it https://t.co/ImUccNMt8O are in baby-mode the whole time. No breaks. No time to yourself.#WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/cU0rcFVo8F
— Varsh (@varshabagadia) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @mamtatwits @TarangSinha “Modern moms” is a misnomer They deal with traditional expectations AND manage personal aspirations — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb @mamtatwits @TarangSinha “Modern moms” is a misnomer They deal with traditional expectations AND manage personal aspirations
@womensweb #Womenonthemove Well, modern moms have it easy to an extent coz they dont get stressed even when surrounded by judging ppl — Mamta Jain (@mamtatwits) February 8, 2017
@womensweb #Womenonthemove Well, modern moms have it easy to an extent coz they dont get stressed even when surrounded by judging ppl
@womensweb YES. It is a heap of cultural expectations that blindsides the visceral, physical, excruciatingly painful aspect of childbirth — Women’s Health Line (@WomensHealth_in) February 8, 2017
@womensweb YES. It is a heap of cultural expectations that blindsides the visceral, physical, excruciatingly painful aspect of childbirth
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People say that women are the greatest enemies of women. I vehemently disagree. It is the patriarchal mindset that makes women believe in the wrong ideology.
The entire world celebrates International Women’s Day on March 8, 2024. It should be a joyful day, but unfortunately, not all women are entitled to this privilege, as violence against women is at its peak. The experience of oppression pushes many women to choose freedom. As far as patriotism is concerned, feminism is not a cup of tea in this society.
What happens when a woman decides to stand up for herself? Does this world easily accept the decisions of women in this society? What inspires them to be free of the clutches of the oppression that women have faced for ages? Most of the time, women do not get the chance to decide for themselves. Their lives are always at the mercy of someone, which can be their parents, siblings, husband, or children.
In some cases, women do not feel the need to make any decisions. They are taught to obey the patriarchal system, which makes them believe that they are right. In my family, I was never taught to make decisions on my own. It was always my parents who bought dresses and all that I needed.
14 years after her last feature film Dhobi Ghat, storyteller extraordinaire comes up with her new film, Laapataa Ladies, a must watch.
*Some spoilers alert*
Every religion around the world dictates terms to women. The onus is always on women to be ‘modest’ and cover their faces and bodies so men can’t be “tempted”, rather than on men to keep their eyes where they belong and behave like civilized beings. So much so that even rape has been excused on the grounds of women eating chowmein or ‘men will be men’. I think the best Hindi movie retort to this unwanted advice on ‘akeli ladki khuli tijori ki tarah hoti hai’ (an alone woman is like an open jewellery box) came from Geet in Jab We Met – Kya aap gyan dene ke paise lete hain kyonki chillar nahin hain mere paas.
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