Few things can compare to the joys of motherhood. However, sometimes that joy can be taken away by postpartum depression or PPD.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, PPD is a mood disorder that affects about one in eight women after giving birth. It is a form of depression that can occur up to one year after delivery.
“Some of the symptoms associated with PPD are trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, feeling irritable, being angry or nervous, lack of interest in the baby, feeling guilty or worthless, feeling hopeless, crying uncontrollably and thoughts of harming the baby or harming oneself,” explained PPD Program Coordinator of the Northern New Jersey Maternal/Child Health Consortium Irina Ventura.
Thirty-four-year-old Elmwood Park mother of three, Thaydra Perez, suffered from PPD after she gave birth to her now seven-year old-son and again two and half years ago after she had twins.
For Perez’ case the first time, the symptoms appeared to be mild at first, then grew steadily. After learning from her doctor that her baby had a single vessel umbilical cord, she had high anxiety and panic attacks. The delivery was difficult, lasting for 24 hours and resulting in an emergency cesarean section. Perez was relieved to learn that she had given birth to a healthy baby boy. She stayed in the hospital for four days and did not feel depressed at all. She and her husband were excited since this was their first child.
About two weeks later, when visits from family and friends lessened, she began to feel sad and had no desire to hold her son. She expected her husband to hold him and would get angry when he had to leave for work. She spent the majority of the day crying and frustrated that her husband was not home to care for their son.
Perez met with a psychologist and at one point, was seeing him three or four times a week. Although she was making progress, the doctor suggested she see a psychiatrist who could prescribe an antidepressant to assist with her therapy. She began a regimen of antidepressants and regular therapy sessions. Close to a year later, she began to feel normal again.
Five years later, Perez learned that she was pregnant with what she thought was her second child but quickly found out she was having twins. Her psychologist and gynecologist communicated with each other to prepare for the possibility that she would have PPD again. To her surprise, she had no problems during her pregnancy.
In May of 2007, she gave birth to a twin boy and girl. Perez recalls she began to feel depressed before leaving the hospital, despite the nurses’ help and her husband being there daily. The second day after their delivery, she was not looking forward to holding or feeding the twins. She knew right away that the PPD had returned so she began taking antidepressants immediately.
Once home, the PPD progressed as Perez and her husband began to argue constantly and both were very withdrawn from bonding with the infants.
It wasn’t until the prescribed amount of her medication was increased three more times before she began to feel a difference in her mood and thoughts. The crying and depression began to subside and by December of 2007 she began to feel like her mind was recovering. She wanted to hold and play with the twins and even began taking photos of them. The medication, therapy and consistent journaling were what led her to feel normal again by the early months of 2008.
“Medication and therapy were a huge help for me, but it was the therapy that I think helped me the most,” she said. “I still go to therapy about once every couple of months. Not because I have to, but because I think it can be helpful for everyone.”
According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, some causes of PPD are: changes in hormone levels, a difficult pregnancy, a difficult birth, lack of sleep, sudden changes in routines, personal or family history of depression, prior experience with PPD or other mood disorders or life stressors such as illness or financial problems.
On April 13, 2006, then Gov. Jon Corzine signed legislation requiring that healthcare professionals educate and screen all new mothers for PPD. New Jersey was the first state in the country to enact such a law. The purpose of the act is to help mothers and their families take action against the effects of PPD through early identification and education.
PPD is no longer a taboo subject for new mothers who may feel embarrassed dealing with such a condition. PPD is a debilitating mental illness that is quite common, affecting women of various cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
Those suffering from PPD or for anyone who would like more information can visit http://www.njspeakup.gov or call 201-843-7400.
E-mail: holman@northjersey.com
BY TONYA HOLMAN
Community News (Elmwood Park Edition)
STAFF WRITER
