From the Guidelines
Postpartum depression (PPD) is the clinical term for the complication where a mother experiences negative feelings toward her baby after childbirth, which may include disliking or feeling disconnected from the infant. The term for postpartum complication of disliking the baby is often referred to as postpartum depression (PPD), a condition that affects approximately 10-15% of new mothers, as reported by Gavin et al. in 2005, cited in 1. This condition is more severe than the common "baby blues," which typically resolve within two weeks postpartum.
Key Factors
- Hormonal fluctuations after delivery, particularly the rapid drop in estrogen and progesterone, contribute to the development of PPD, as suggested by the biological predictors discussed in 1.
- Sleep deprivation, physical recovery challenges, and psychological adjustment to parenthood also play a significant role in the development of PPD.
- Cultural factors, including variability in the definition and expression of depressive symptoms, dietary proscriptions and restrictions, sources and types of stress, social support, parental gender roles, religious customs, and attitudes and norms about mental health, can influence the prevalence of PPD, as highlighted in 1.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- The gold standard for diagnosing PPD is a clinical interview, such as the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-IV, while shorter screening tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) are also commonly used, as mentioned in 1.
- Treatment typically involves a combination of psychotherapy, particularly cognitive behavioral therapy, and medication, with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) being first-line pharmacological options.
- For immediate support, mothers should contact their healthcare provider, consider joining support groups, and ensure they have help with childcare to allow for rest, as early intervention is crucial to prevent long-term effects on mother-infant bonding and the child's development.
From the Research
Postpartum Complications
- The term for postpartum complication of disliking the baby is not explicitly mentioned in the provided studies.
- However, the studies discuss postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety, which can be related to a mother's feelings towards her baby.
- According to 2, peer-delivered group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can lead to improvements in the mother-infant relationship and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- The study 3 found that online CBT can be effective in reducing postpartum depressive symptomatology.
- Another study 4 evaluated the addition of CBT to standard antidepressant therapy in treating postpartum depression with comorbid anxiety disorders.
- Study 5 revealed that women have limited knowledge of postpartum anxiety disorders and cognitive behavioral therapy.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis 6 found that CBT is effective for perinatal maternal depression, anxiety, and stress.
Mother-Infant Relationship
- The study 2 found that peer-delivered group CBT can lead to improvements in the mother-infant relationship.
- This improvement is associated with a decrease in perceptions of impaired mother-infant bonding and rejection 2.
- However, the studies do not provide a specific term for postpartum complication of disliking the baby.