Not really Baby blues
Postpartum depression is medically defined as, “a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen in some women after giving birth”. The behavior of women after giving birth varies massively for some weeks and it can be owed to chemical, social, and psychological changes that happen when having a baby. The chemical changes involve a rapid drop in hormones after delivery. With the levels of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, the female reproductive hormones, increase tenfold during pregnancy, to give women the strength it needs to have a child, this change can cause unbalanced and sudden mood swings.
It has been observed that these severe depression bouts are often mistaken for baby blues, while in 1 out of 10 women, these can last for a long time after giving birth. We all remember the scene in the famous TV series, Friends and how the female leads would just burst crying while they were pregnant and their mood swings after the delivery would make us crack up not making us realize the gravity of the situation. Some studies show that this is also triggered by thoughts of not being a good enough parent and incapable of handling such huge responsibilities. While mostly the body organically finds peace and balances the chemical changes, for some it may lead to postpartum depression. There is already silence around mental health, and with new mothers, it is thought as a way of escapism from responsibilities or a phase. It is important to seek medical help but the first step is always awareness
Medical science has been proven effective in treating these but the biggest and most effective treatment observed has been the love and support of family. With the varying hormonal levels and a mess of thoughts in the heads along with insecurity and unsureness, mental support can be of a very huge help. In Indian households, the woman is expected to get back to her gender roles, along with catering to the needs of the child, she has to take care of the family, struggling to find balance. The working woman sinks in guilt while leaving her child at home or an institution and returning to work along with the judgments of the world. For after the hard nine months of carrying a child in their womb, a woman deserves all the love and care in the world to make her regain her mental peace and stability.
Contributed by Rohan Khimavat content writer at Mitti Ke Rang
At Mitti Ke Rang, we started with a COVID-19 community support fundraising, as an emergency response to provide a safety net to families. This will help them survive in the lockdown period. We aim to directly support these families by providing a minimum wage, through transferring the same into their accounts or partner with local NGO, Organisation, Fellow, or a Volunteer, and support them with groceries.
You can donate at:
Our Social Media:
LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitti-ke-rang-mkr-81b230120/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mitikerang?s=08
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mitti_ke_rang?r=nametag
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mitikerang/
YouTube:
