Postpartum anxiety and depression

My good friend and colleague Ashley Chandler recently delivered her second son. For some, that means a little less anxiety after having gone through this whole thing once before. However, that doesn't mean things are all peaches and cream. I asked her to make some videos about motherhood and how she is doing the second time around. I gave her no direction at all to see what issues felt most important to her and the first thing she wanted to talk about was postpartum depression and anxiety.



Postpartum depression and anxiety are not things that we choose to suffer from. They are chemical and/or hormonal imbalances that can make us feel awful, sad, insane, angry, scared, worried, even suicidal. They aren't things we can just sleep away (though sleep deprivation does play into these issues). They are legitimate problems that moms can suffer from in the postpartum period, and it's not always recognized. Very often moms don't realize they may be dealing with these issues until they are past them. And let's be honest, that is no way to live out the early postpartum days. Below is the video she made describing her experience with depression and anxiety. For more videos check out our website or find us on YouTube.

Hopefully your provider has given you a little handout to go through that screens for depression. I must have taken it in the early days after I had my first child, but I can tell you right now it didn't pick up on how bad I was suffering. I think, in retrospect, it was probably more anxiety clouding my brain, but I know I had a bit of both even so.



If you don't know if you've filled out the scale to screen for depression, here is one example.  It's quick but if you have 10 or more points you may want to ask your doc about it. Anxiety is another issue. Here is a scale that you can take if you thing you may have postpartum anxiety. Mild to moderate is 21-41 points and severe is 42 and up.



If you have even a tiny bit of doubt that you aren't okay, ask your obstetrician. Tell your PT. Call your mother or your girlfriends or your priest. Just don't suffer in silence. These issues are SO common, yet we all feel shame over discussing it. Admitting your aren't okay feels so vulnerable so many women hide it. It's too bad, because there is help out there. Whether it's meds or therapy, hormone balancing or exercise, diet or essential oils, there is lots out there to help make you feel better, healthier, stronger. And by all means, get evaluated by a PT so that your new body works as well as it can. Feeling depressed over time because you are limited by incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, diastasis recti is no way to live either. Check out  https://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com/blog for more information about what we offer as Pelvic Health physical therapists.










Lacy Kells PT, DPT
http://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com


Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com

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