Postpartum Syndrome
Postpartum Syndrome in Men: It is natural for many mood changes to occur in the process that begins with the birth of the baby. Emotions may vary with sudden transitions, from happiness to intense sadness, but if the state of sadness and anxiety progresses or the emotions become obstructive to the person’s survival, this situation is called postpartum depression or puerperal syndrome. Complaints with puerperal syndrome usually occur within the first few weeks following birth. In some individuals, this process may extend up to 6 months after birth. If the syndrome develops, the main complaints may be emotional fluctuations, difficulty thinking, difficulty making decisions, or having problems bonding with the baby. If you think you have such a situation, it is very important to know that you are not alone and to contact health institutions and get support from doctors. You can follow the rest of the article for other topics you are curious about about puerperal syndrome.
What is Postpartum Syndrome?
Postpartum depression, known as puerperal syndrome, is a psychological problem that occurs following birth. Puerperal syndrome, a relatively common health problem, is a condition that can affect almost 1 in every 7 mothers.
With the development of postpartum syndrome, individuals may feel empty, apathetic or unhappy. Mood changes, burnout, and a general state of hopelessness may continue for some time after birth. If such complaints develop, puerperal syndrome is considered a condition that should not be taken lightly. It is very important to intervene in the situation with various support programs and treatment methods before it progresses to a serious psychiatric problem or outcome.
What Causes Postpartum Syndrome?
Postpartum syndrome is a condition that can be seen in roughly 15% of new mothers. Various studies on puerperal syndrome, the underlying cause of which is often not fully revealed, point to the existence of some risk factors. Some of the psychosocial risk factors associated with puerperal syndrome can be summarized as follows:
- Having anxiety and depression during pregnancy
- Experiencing stressful events during pregnancy
- Lack of social support
- Conflicts in relationship
- low income level
- Immigration
- Early motherhood
- Lack of support from spouse
In addition to these psychosocial factors, puerperal syndrome may be caused by hormonal fluctuations that occur during pregnancy and birth. It can be predicted that people who experience puerperal syndrome after any birth may experience this condition again after another birth. Physiologically, fluctuations in hormone levels may result in disruption of the mother’s sleep patterns. This situation triggers the onset of postpartum syndrome over time.
What are the symptoms of puerperal syndrome?
Many individuals who develop postpartum syndrome feel sad, empty, sluggish or out of sorts. However, with the development of postpartum syndrome, mood changes may occur at a very advanced level due to these complaints. Postpartum syndrome symptoms are complaints that may vary from person to person and from day to day. The emergence of symptoms usually occurs within 1-3 weeks following the birth of the baby. With the emergence of this condition, also called postpartum depression, a weakening of the bond between mother and baby may occur. People may feel like they don’t love their baby enough. It is very important for mothers to be aware that these feelings are not their fault so that they can go through the recovery process more easily.
Various symptoms that can be considered among the symptoms of puerperal syndrome can be summarized as follows:
- Being quite sad, crying often
- feeling exhausted
- Presence of thoughts about harming the baby or yourself
- Loss of interest in the baby
- Lack of energy or motivation
- Feeling worthless, guilty, or like a bad parent
- Too little or too much sleep
- Changes in eating habits
- state of anxiety
- Chronic headaches, body aches and digestive problems
Despite the existence of all these complaints, individuals should realize that this situation is not their fault and they should know that they are not a bad parent. Individuals who observe such complaints should accept this situation as a discomfort and seek support from experts.
When Does Postpartum Syndrome Occur?
Postpartum syndrome usually begins following birth, but the earliest the person notices changes in mood is in the first few days after birth. The postpartum depression period usually occurs between the first 4-6 weeks after birth. Despite this generalization, it should not be forgotten that puerperal syndrome may develop in some individuals while they are still in the pregnancy phase or over a period of up to 6 months – 1 year after birth.
How Long Does Postpartum Syndrome Last?
Although various studies have shown the most common time periods during which puerperal syndrome occurs, there is no average duration for how long this syndrome will last. Some studies indicate that with appropriate support and treatment approach, changes in mood may regress within a period of 3-6 months.
How to Treat Postpartum Syndrome?
There are various answers to the question of how to treat puerperal syndrome. Although the best answer is to contact healthcare institutions and get support from experts, the various practices you can do with the knowledge and advice of your physicians can be summarized as follows:
- Exercise as much as possible
- Establishing a healthy eating habit
- Paying attention to personal time
- Determining time for rest
- Giving importance to the breastfeeding process
- Avoiding isolation
Apart from such practices, if the complaints persist or change in character, it is very important to get support from experts for the correct treatment approach.
How is Puerperal Syndrome Treated?
Treatment of puerperal syndrome is very important in maintaining the general well-being of both the mother and the baby. The most important stage is for the parent to understand that this situation exists, to accept the situation and to ask for support. Treatment programs tailored to the individual produce very good results in the majority of cases.
Considering the triggering factor of puerperal syndrome, physicians may prescribe various medications. Antidepressants, hormonal treatments or, in cases that progress to psychosis, the prescription of antipsychotic drugs may be used. In addition to drug therapy, psychotherapy approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy are another application that can be used for the treatment of puerperal syndrome.
What are the Duties of Spouses and Relatives in Postpartum Syndrome?
Spouses and relatives of individuals with puerperal syndrome can show that they support the mother with various approaches. Some of these possible applications can be summarized as follows:
- Making them feel that they are not alone, that this situation is not their fault, and that they will get better.
- Encouraging them to talk about their feelings
- Assisting with household chores
- Encouraging them to spare time for themselves and preventing them from getting tired
- Coming home on time and being honest about that time
- Showing that you are there for them to get support and treatment
- Spending time together outside
- Making sure they have a healthy and balanced diet and preventing their blood sugar from falling
- being a good listener
- Being open to all kinds of communication
- Staying calm, asking what can be done to help, making suggestions
Postpartum Syndrome in Men
Although puerperal syndrome seems to be a disorder associated with women, some expectant fathers may also suffer from the same condition. In this process that begins after birth, men, as well as mothers, may experience serious mood changes and intense anxiety. Symptoms such as anger, restlessness, aggressiveness, loss of interest in work or constantly spending time at work are among the complaints of postpartum syndrome in men.
Postpartum syndrome is a relatively common condition that can affect both parents. If this situation, which can progress to serious psychological problems over time, is noticed, it is very important to apply to health institutions and get support from specialist physicians for the health of both parents and babies. We wish you healthy days.
