The birth of a child is usually a source of intense happiness for both the woman who has it and the couple and the family in general. However, Symptoms of depression may occur in 10 to 20% of women who give birth, a disorder known as Postpartum Depression (PPD), which must be differentiated from postpartum blues (baby blues), which consists of mild and short-lasting changes in mood that many women can have during the first 15 days after giving birth.
PPD is characterized by appearing shortly after childbirth or even during the first year, although it usually occurs within the first three months after childbirth. The mother usually feels sadness, anxiety, irritability, loss of interest -may include the newborn-, inability or difficulty in performing tasks, not being able to care for herself or her baby, and sometimes having thoughts of harming herself or her baby.
The mother usually feels sadness, anxiety, irritability and loss of interest.
Conditions for postpartum depression
The chances of experiencing PPD increase if some conditions exist, such as:
1) Be less than 20 years old.
2) The existence of previous consumption of alcohol or other toxic substances.
3) If the pregnancy was neither wanted nor planned.
4) If a bad relationship is predicted.
5) If you suffered previous depressions or eating disorders.
6) If there was any stressful event During pregnancy.
7) If the birth was difficult.
8) If it was premature or if the baby had a congenital disease or anomaly.
Differences to take into account
Despite some similarities, lPostpartum depression is not the same as classic depression nor does it respond to the usual treatments since they are much less effective in controlling it.. Furthermore, even if they were (be it antidepressants, psychotherapy or deep brain stimulation) they take weeks or months to take effect.
Given the increased frequency of PPD observed in recent years, research has focused on unraveling possible causal factors to facilitate more specific treatments.
After childbirth, there is a decrease in various hormones that have an influence on mood.
Although causality cannot be attributed to a single factor, focus has been placed on hormonal causes since after childbirth There is a sharp decrease in various hormones that have high levels during pregnancy and that exert an influence on mental well-being during pregnancy.
One of the main ones is allopregnanolone for its crucial role in good mood during pregnancy.oy with protective actions on the brain of the mother and fetus against stress and other possible damage. Her level drops after childbirth and it was proven that she has active responsibility in PPD.
This knowledge led to attempts to treat PPD not with the usual treatments but with medications that mimic the action of allopregnenolone.
In March 2019, Brexanolone became the first synthetic drug approved by the FDA for this purpose and demonstrated a rapid and significant ability to reduce depressive symptoms.
And in August 2023, The FDA approved zuronolone, the second drug for this purpose, with the advantage of being administered orally.
With both, a rapid recovery was observed in a matter of a few days and even a few hours.