Post Natal Depression Causes - In Indian Women

By Shruti Roy

Thursday, June 30, 2011, 16:57

Being a mother is special as it showers on you all the happiness that any women wants in life. But postnatal problems are something which every one among ten mothers face. Post natal depression is a state of mind where the mother undergoes a phase of severe emotional instability. This not only happens with new mothers but also for those who have two or more children. Series of research have been done and observations being made, we conclude that there are several causes for postnatal problems like depression. Post natal Blues must not be confused with post natal depression. Hormonal changes might give temporary post natal blues, which a mother overcomes in a month or two maximum. But Post natal depression is a stretch of severe blues. This might continue for a year or more. If the blues continues for more than a month, a doctor must be consulted with.

Listed are the post natal depression causes :

Marital problems: Mothers those have marital problems and become pregnant in a situation that she has no other option than giving birth to the baby often go into depression due to her helplessness in the situation. She starts thinking that alomg with her the new born will suffer too. Also she assumes that now that she is not an individual any more, now she is bound to live in the existing situation without an escape.

Couples with financial problems: In the present scenario every couple plans for a baby only when they have gained financial stability. But in cases where due to the pressure of the family and orthodox mind set a couple has to have a baby when they are not prepared, the mother suffers post natal depression. She constantly feels guilty of giving birth to the child in the inappropriate time.

Change in life style:Being in love, then marriage are full of fantasy. Even the period of pregnancy passes with rosy glasses on the eyes. But girls fail to realize the responsibility that comes with motherhood. The whole lifestyle changes. A girl even if married lives her life to a greater extent on her own without bearing the responsibility of anyone at the back of the mind. Even if a married women fails in her responsibility towards her husband once a while, the husband will take care of himself. But the child is solely dependent on the mother. A girl's lifestyle revolves around herself till she gets a baby. She has to learn to to prioritize her baby before herself. This becomes unacceptable hence leading to post natal depression.

Emotional anxiety: When a girl spends sleepless nights, finds difficulty in breast feeding, due to hormonal changes feels physically weak and yet has to take care of the child, then the mother suffers from post natal depression. Moreover in such a situation, even the husband along with others gives all attention to the baby other than the mother, it makes her feel left out and not taken care of. Such postnatal problems should be taken care of by family members.

Unfulfilled expectations: Post natal depression in Indian women has always been prevelant because of gender biasing. After having a she child, the mother is expected to give birth to a baby boy instead of which again a baby girl is born. The unfulfilled expectations of the family members and also of the mother leads to the post natal depression.

Past related sad memories: Due to hormonal imbalance, the memories of past sad events get triggered. For instance previous miscarriages or situations when she had to take contraceptive pills and so on. All these regular reasons are the causes of Post Natal Depression.

Post natal depression if temporary is nothing to be much worried about. In some the postnatal problems are more visible than others. The post natal depression causes are very subtle yet very effective at times.