The Effects of Postpartum Depression on the Child and Mother

After a woman has endured nine long months of pregnancy, they bring a beautiful baby into the world. Some woman with many changes in their body is not able to express the happiness of a new child. Postpartum Depression is a condition that affects one in eight women around the world with their daily lives. The thing with postpartum depression is that it does not only affect women, but it sometimes affects men too. Many things may cause the reason for this condition, but there are significant factors that most women and men have that are more common than others.

Postpartum Depression cases can be very mild to very severe. Most women are ashamed to admit having symptoms to this condition. Many of the causes are alterations to the hormone level of prolactin, progesterone, estrogen, and cortisol. Studies show that some women who have had a loss of a child are more likely to have this condition. For men that have postpartum depression, the reasons can be the lack of sleep, dealing with stress, and so many more factors after a child. There is a lot that is unknown about postpartum depression and the causes what may be the main reason for this condition. However, 'there is no association of postpartum depression with marital status, social class, or the number of live children born to the mother' (Gulli 2). With that said, there are many many other factors in persons personal lives that contribute to this condition.

The effects that this condition can be severe for the mother and child. Some of the symptoms you will see with women that have this is anger, lack of interest for the baby, insomnia, and many others. These symptoms may not only apply towards the baby they may use these emotions and actions towards other children and peers. In most women postpartum only last about six weeks but some women, it may last longer, and one of the symptoms is the lack of sex drive. 'Children whose mothers have this condition are at higher risk for developmental alterations that include psychological, cognitive, neurological, and developmental motor delays' (Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Family Studies 324). There are other problems that it will cause the family in the long run, such as infant attachment, family functioning, and marital relationship issues. In other women, postpartum can be short and last less than a few weeks; these women can go without any clinical help. These effects of this condition can affect women in different ways, such as in their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The thoughts can get to the extreme as far as to want to commit suicide.