Fatigue adds to baby blues

Fatigue adds to baby blues

Donya Betancourt, Pediatrician, Sanur, Bali, drdonya@hotmail.com

This week I will conclude our discussion on postpartum, but
first I will suggest a few ways to cope with a high-need baby.

Mothers want to begin by spending lots of time during the day
holding their baby. If mom is not comfortable nursing while lying
down, I recommend finding the most comfortable chair in the house
and setting it up in the location of your choice.

Wherever you choose, next to you should be a table to keep a
drink and some snacks, the remote control, or whatever you need
to really settle in and get comfortable. Moms need to get their
rest, so remember that all the housework will wait.

Your family and friends can help you around the house, so you
can put your energy into your baby and your own highly required
rest. Or you can wait until the little one has come off the
breast, is relaxed and satisfied before carrying him/her to bed,
and then resting together.

Purchase a baby sling. The obvious benefit to the baby is lots
of close contact with mom, and this will also free up the
mother's hands to go about her regular routine. Fussy babies
often love to nurse while in the sling.

When the baby does fall asleep, mom can continue to carry him
or gently lie him down to nap. The sling can serve as a
lightweight blanket for the baby. Use it for short periods of
time every day, until the baby is comfortable in it. When breast-
feeding, let the baby come off the breast on his own before
switching sides.

Sometimes moms who like to "marathon nurse" switch back and
forth several times during a feed. When this is done, a baby may
not be receiving much of her rich hind milk, which will signal
the end of the feed, and help him to remain satisfied for a
longer period of time. An overabundance of foremilk can cause
gassiness and colicky symptoms in some babies.

Now onto postpartum blues; there is a more severe form of
blues called postpartum depression. It occurs in approximately 10
percent of childbearing women. Women who have experienced the
baby blues are at increased risk of developing postpartum
depression.

Symptoms are more intense and longer lasting than those of the
blues. They can occur any time within the first year after birth.
The signs and symptoms include constant fatigue, lack of joy in
life, a sense of emotional numbness or feeling trapped,
withdrawal from family and friends, lack of concern for yourself
or your baby, severe insomnia, excessive concern for your baby,
loss of sexual interest or responsiveness, a strong sense of
failure and inadequacy, severe mood swings, high expectations and
overdemanding attitude, and difficulty making sense of things.

No single cause for postpartum depression has been identified.
A woman's body experiences enormous changes through the course of
labor and delivery. The transition in hormone levels from
pregnancy to postdelivery is drastic. Your body also undergoes
changes in blood volume, blood pressure, immune system and
metabolism.

In addition to your body's physical changes, fatigue also
plays a large role in the baby blues. Several factors may combine
to make you feel overly tired, i.e. lack of sleep, caring for a
newborn, increased visits by family and friends, unsatisfactory
birth experience, sense of loss in no longer being pregnant,
unsatisfactory marriage, a baby with a high level of needs, lack
of social support and a family history of postpartum depression.

The transition to parenthood can be difficult, but
experiencing mild or severe depression doesn't mean you have
failed as a person or a parent. Expect to recover as you learn
new ways to balance your daily life and responsibilities.

The process of defining your new identity as a parent can
enrich your life in ways you may never have thought possible.
Inform your doctor early if you, family members or friends
identify even a few of these signs and symptoms. Early
intervention can lead to a more rapid recovery. Treatment varies
according to individual needs, but it may include counseling,
antidepressant medication, hormone therapy and attending a local
support group.