Most mothers experience postpartum depression after giving birth. About one out of ten of these women will have more severe and long-lasting depression after delivery.
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This can have a very negative impact or effect on the mother and the baby.
Mothers are supposed to take care of their newborn babies. It will be difficult to take good care of your baby as a new mother if you are experiencing postpartum depression.
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You might want to find ways to help you come out of such depression. The bible has made some provisions for prayer for postpartum depression. This article will help you get familiar with it.
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Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is a complex mix of physical, emotional, and behavioral changes that happen in some women after giving birth.
This form of depression usually occurs four weeks after delivery.
It is a physical and emotional change that many mothers experience that is linked to the chemical, social and psychological changes that happen when having a baby.
The chemical changes involve a rapid drop in hormones after delivery.
The actual cause or reason for this is not really known but what is clear is that the level of estrogen and progesterone the female reproductive hormones increases tenfold during pregnancy.
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They later drop immediately after delivery. By three days a woman gives birth, the levels of these hormones drop back to what they were before pregnancy.
Causes Of Postpartum Depression
There is no clear cause of postpartum depression after delivery. Experts however think it happens for many reasons that may not be constant and the reasons may vary from mother to mother.
Some things that can raise the chances of postpartum depression include;
- Ambivalence about the pregnancy: having mixed feelings about the unborn child especially if it is your first pregnancy. Asking questions like what if the baby is not a boy? What if I don’t succeed in delivery?
- Giving birth to more children: the more you have more children. The more likely you are to be depressed in later pregnancy.
- Family history of mood disorders
- Having twins or triplets
- Living alone
- Limited social support
- Marital conflict
- Experiencing stressful events
- Giving birth to a child that needs special care.
- The age at which you get pregnant can also be a cause. The younger you are, the higher the chances.
- A history of depression prior to becoming pregnant, or during pregnancy.
Symptoms Of Postpartum Depression
- Severe anger and crankiness
- Loss of pleasure
- Trouble sleeping
- Appetite changes
- Lower libido
- Thoughts of death
- Depressed mood
- Crying for no reason
- Thought of violence
- Feeling worthless or hopeless.
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These symptoms can however be dangerous to the new mother and her baby if they persist. This is what a newborn mother should look out for after delivery.
- Symptoms persist beyond two weeks
- Trouble coping with everyday situations or activities.
- The thought to harm yourself or the baby
- Feeling extremely anxious, scared, or panicking most of the day
- Not functioning normally
If you notice any of these after delivery seek professional assistance as soon as possible to prevent any future problems.
Types Of Postpartum Depression
- The baby blues: this is associated with sudden mood swings, such as feeling very happy and then feeling very sad right after delivery. This lasts for just a few hours or as long as one to two weeks after childbirth.
- Postpartum psychosis: this is when some new mother after delivery has issues with loss of touch with reality, having auditory hallucinations.
Postpartum Depression Treatment
Treatment options include anti-anxiety medication, psychotherapy, and participation in support groups for emotional support and education.
Postpartum depression is mostly treated based on the type of symptoms and how severe they are.
What Does The Bible Say About After Birth?
The bible has something to say about after birth. When you go through some scriptures in the bible it speaks about women, childbirth, and becoming a mother.
Here are some scriptures that teach or speak about after childbirth and may be helpful for postpartum depression for new mothers.
John 16:21, when a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.
Isaiah 66:7-12, before she was in labor she gave birth; before her pain came upon her she delivered a son.
Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall a land be born in one day?
Shall a nation be brought forth in one moment?
For as soon as Zion was in labor she brought forth children. Shall I bring to the point of birth and not cause to bring forth?
Says the Lord, “shall I, who cause to bring forth, shut the womb?” says your God. “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who mourn over her, that consoling breast, that you may drink deeply with delight from her glorious abundance.
Psalm 127:3, behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
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1 Timothy 2:15, yet she will be saved through childbearing, if they continue in faith and love and holiness with self-control.
Here are some scriptures you could also lookup in your bible to help cope with postpartum:
Luke 1:35, Exodus 1:19, Philippians 4:13, Luke 1:14, Luke 2:6
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Prayer For Postpartum Depression
In times of trouble, we turn to God for mercy and compassion, and for healing.
Prayer is when we submit to the creator and share with him our thought, troubles, and expectations. How do you pray to God when you are experiencing postpartum depression?
Here’s one way we can pray to God about our postpartum depression.
“God the creator of the world, the one who made everything possible under the heavens, I praise You for motherhood.
Even in my plight of physical and emotional pain, I thank You for the gift of the womb. Your grace has found me, I thank You for strength, I thank You for another life.
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In You I hope, in You shall I receive my healing. Thank You for answering my prayers. Amen.”
FAQ
How Do I Cope With Postpartum?
1. Create a strong relationship with your child. The stable relationship that develops between parents and children is known as emotional bonding. 2. Take proper care of yourself. 3. Reintroduce exercise gradually. 4. Create a network of support. 5. Psychotherapy and drugs may be used.
What Does The Bible Say About After Birth?
According to the Book of Leviticus, a woman is unclean for 40 days after giving birth to a male and for 80 days after giving birth to a girl. The scenario depicts a woman eating in bed, surrounded by ladies and children. Her baby is being rocked in his cradle.
What Does The Bible Say When You Feel Depressed?
In Summary
Postpartum depression that’s not treated can last for months or longer turning into chronic depressive disorder.
Even with treatment, postpartum depression can make you more likely to have episodes of depression in the future.
When a new mother has depression, the father may be more likely to have depression too.
Children of the other with postpartum depression are more likely to have problems with sleeping and eating, crying more than usual, and delays in language development.
