Baby Blues

Postpartum Depression

Nine months of pregnancy: the baby has finally arrived. In fact, there is every reason to be happy. But some women are not. Tears, fears and worries overlay the feelings of happiness and leave the feelings of motherhood still hidden. A crisis or depression often arises in connection with significant experiences that have to be processed. The birth of a child is a case in point…

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Postpartum Depression

Postpartum mental crises include baby blues, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis. Approximately every sixth woman suffers from postpartum depression after giving birth. Various symptoms - such as listlessness, joylessness, states of exhaustion, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, feelings of guilt, and increased anxiety - that persist over a long period of time can indicate postpartum depression. Depression usually develops in the first three months to a year after giving birth. This mental illness can be accompanied by physical symptoms such as palpitations and pain in the heart, alternating feelings of heat and cold, dizziness and tremors.

How can you prevent?

Pregnancy and motherhood bring a number of new experiences. To ensure that these are remembered as positively as possible, experts have a few tips:

• Discuss everything that bothers and worries you.
• Even during pregnancy, think about how a baby will change your life. Talk to your partner about how you can cope with the new situation together.
• Plan for additional support after the birth and organize it in good time.
• Involve your partner in looking after the baby.
• Try to make as few life changes as possible during pregnancy and in the first few months after the birth (e.g. moving house, changing jobs).
• Plan to rest during the day, for example when the baby is sleeping.
• Take some time for yourself - plan activities, meet up with friends, relax, etc.
• Make contacts with other mothers and share experiences.

Causes of Postpartum Depression

The causes of this type of depression can be many. Experts suspect that this is due to hormonal changes or traumatic birth experiences - such as an unexpected caesarean section. Difficult life situations such as a difficult relationship with your partner, problems within the family or financial difficulties can also be possible triggers. Women who were depressed before pregnancy are more likely to develop postpartum depression than women who have never had depression before.

diagnosis

Diagnosis & Therapy

The diagnosis of postpartum depression is made through a detailed discussion with a doctor. The type of treatment depends on the severity of the depression. The doctor can prescribe drug therapy or psychotherapy. These treatment options are often combined. The therapy can be carried out on an outpatient basis or, in severe cases, on an inpatient basis. If postpartum depression is left untreated, the mother-child relationship can be permanently disrupted. A newborn baby needs a lot of attention and care, which a sick mother can often only give to a limited extent. There is a risk that the newborn will remain emotionally undersupplied. Serious interactions between mother and child can be the result.

How partners can support

Men can also help prevent postpartum depression:

• Accompany the mother-to-be on their way to becoming a parent during pregnancy.
• Take time for your partner and your offspring.
• Discuss worries with your partner.
• Exchange ideas with friends or with other parents.
• After birth, sexuality is usually not the focus of the relationship. Try to find other ways to show your affection. Do not apply pressure.
• Try to be positive about outside support.

If the woman suffers from postpartum depression after giving birth, the partner can support you with some measures, for example:

• Encourage the mother to seek professional help or to organize it herself.
• Carry out everyday activities (e.g. shopping, household chores).
• Take over / organize childcare.
• Make sure the mother gets enough sleep.

However, partners should also take care of their own health. You can seek help yourself if you notice that the situation is getting over your head. It is only understandable that in challenging situations you cannot do everything on your own. Also think about the wellbeing of your child or children.

Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is relatively rare and only affects around one percent of women. It usually develops in the first two weeks after birth, but it can also develop from postpartum depression. Postpartum psychosis is considered to be the most severe form of postnatal crisis. This psychosis is characterized by the fact that the women affected lose touch with reality or suffer from delusions. The postpartum psychosis makes medical treatment absolutely necessary. In most cases, admission to a hospital with a psychiatric department is unavoidable.

Partners can also support the new mother with postpartum psychosis. Let specialist staff advise you on this. Do not be afraid to seek help yourself if this challenging situation is very troubling for you.

Whom can I ask?

For the diagnosis of a mental crisis after the birth, you can contact the following offices:

• General practitioner
• midwife
• Psychotherapist
• clinical psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Hospital with a psychiatric department

You can also find help and advice under the following links:

• Women's advice centers (network of Austrian girls and women advice centers - the network is an amalgamation of 50 women and girls advice centers from all nine federal states.)
• Women's Health Centers (www.fgz.co.at)
• Family advice centers (www.familienberatung.gv.at)
• Midwifery Center (www.hebammen.at)
• Find support groups

How are the costs going to be covered?

Psychotherapy is basically a private service that is not paid for by health insurance. However, the health insurance companies grant a subsidy per therapy session for so-called "illness-related disorders". The coverage of the costs for psychotherapy by the health insurance is regulated differently in the Austrian federal states.

Subsidies are made if:

• psychotherapy is necessary to treat an illness,
• the psychotherapy is carried out by persons who are authorized to practice this therapy independently.

However, in order to enable a certain number of patients to fully cover the costs of psychotherapy (different solutions and models depending on the federal state), individual psychotherapists have two to four checkouts. If such a checkout is available, the patient will not incur any costs for the therapy. You can obtain information about the possibility of psychotherapy on a sick note from your health insurance company. Participation in a self-help group is generally free of charge. However, some self-help groups charge a small contribution towards expenses. You can find detailed information under Psychotherapy.

The comprehensive brochure of the Vienna Social Fund Actually I should be happy contains interesting facts about postpartum depression. It provides information about the clinical picture and the different treatment options for the disease.