The Science of Healing: Understanding Postpartum Mental Health Beyond Stigma

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Subaat Emaan, a final year student at Services Institute of Medical Sciences, is an affiliate member and Support Division Director at IFMSA SIMS-LC. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

More people get perinatal and postpartum depression than most assume. Studies indicate that 1 in 5 women experience depression and anxiety during the perinatal period. During the postpartum period, about 85% of women experience some type of mood disturbance. Usually, the disease is not too severe for most people, but 10 to 15% of women may suffer from major depression or anxiety.

Unfortunately, in our deeply patriarchal society, women’s’, and especially mothers’, mental health is often ignored as dramatics or attention-seeking behavior. The parent’s autonomy is disregarded and overlooked as their only responsibility is now supposed to be their child. The woman is no longer seen as a ‘woman’ or even a ‘person’ but rather a machine programmed to take care of her husband, child, and house without any support.

Postpartum mental health is the condition of a mother’s mind after pregnancy. After pregnancy, the mental psyche of a mother can decline significantly, which leads to the development of disorders such as depression, PTSD, and many more.

Postpartum psychiatric illness is usually classified as (1) postpartum blues and (2) postpartum depression (3) Postpartum psychosis. We can imagine these disorders as each having a place along a spectrum, where postpartum blues is the mildest and postpartum psychosis the most severe form of postpartum psychiatric illness.

These disorders are characterized by the presence of depressed affect, anhedonia, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and incompetence. The mothers may also note sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, and suicidal ideation. At the highest level of severity lie symptoms of delusions, hallucinations, and thoughts of harming self or baby.

After childbirth, hormone levels (especially estrogen and progesterone) drop dramatically within 48 hours. While these hormones regulate your mood during and after pregnancy, there’s no consistent correlation between their levels and postpartum mood disorders. However, some women may be particularly sensitive to these hormonal shifts, making them vulnerable to postpartum depression (PPD) and other hormone-related mood disturbances. Additional risk factors include first pregnancy, family history, bipolar or psychotic disorders, and recent medication changes. 

In today’s world a lot of advancement has been made to normalize psychiatric disorders in the society. However, there are still many countries where mental health is ignored and health seeking is stigmatized. So, the important question is, what can be done to help? In what ways can we support our mothers? For starters, you can spread awareness on social media and in your circles. Show the world that yes, this is a problem, and that it needs to be addressed. 

Pay close attention to new mothers near you. Inquire about them and their health, and lend a helping hand whenever you can, and if the situation becomes too serious, consult a trained professional. Several treatment modalities exist nowadays. From nonpharmacological interventions, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy, to medications such as SSRIs and antipsychotic drugs. Prophylactic interventions should be initiated in vulnerable groups of women at the time of delivery or early postpartum period to reduce the incidence of postpartum mental disorders.

About the author

Subaat Emaan, a final year student at Services Institute of Medical Sciences, is an affiliate member and Support Division Director at IFMSA SIMS-LC. She is an avid reader and has great passion for writing and sharing her ideas. She is a strong advocator of Health for All and is a staunch supporter of women’s rights. She loves to engage in awareness campaigns and outreach programs in relation with gender equality, mental health and human rights. She has great passion for research and loves to explore new and innovative articles.