Post partum depression

Lifestyle Health & Fitness
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How common is it amongst women? specifically desi women? i assumed that every woman goes through it, sme to a lesser extent than others (most extreme cases being the ones u hear on the news :(). reason i am curious b/c we were watching TV and one of the characters had PPD and hubby said hes never seen it amongst the women in his family or in pakistan…and i asked a few relatives of mine in pak and they said they’ve never heard of this “depression” after having a baby…and now that i think abtr it i haven’t seen many ppl here discussing it either…is it acknowledged as a serious issue amongst ppl in pak?..

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Re: Post partum depression

It's very very common. I had it myself although not severly but to some extent.

People in Pak have a lot of help, relatives, paid help etc so things might be different for them. My theory is, here when a lot of us are alone taking care of a new born plus the house hold, plus other children (in some cases), it gets very tough at times.

Lack of sleep, fatigue, not being able to go out, wanting to get rid of the extra weight, all these factors contribute towards being depressed.

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Re: Post partum depression

well i think most women suffer from baby blues to some extent or other. but ppd is much more severe and therefore not as common. to be honest i think if it does exist (which it probably does) in pakistani society it just goes unnoticed. the reasons for this being that you usually have so many people around the new mother, helping her out, taking the baby off her hands, or otherwise she is so busy looking after the family, that anything is just gotten over in time or ignored or put down as something else. and i really don't think that this is something desi mothers would speak out about. imagine the shame! :|
i'm pretty sure my cousin had quite serious baby blues after her first born. not that anyone would ever admit it. she hardly smiled, seemed really down, wasn't taking care of herself and just had no interest in the baby. her mum was doing pretty much everything for it.. she would only take it at feeding time.

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^ As Sajal said happened same with me after my C-section I really depressed, due to pain, lack of sleep, take care of baby and offcourse house hold stuff, lots of depression mode, my doctor told my hubby u have to ready about this situation upto 2 months, but I overcome my depression bcoz I am going to Pakistan after 2 months of my delivery so due to happiness of that trip I subside my depression.

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Re: Post partum depression

Put it this way, people's lack of knowledge does not mean something does not exist.

All or Most women suffer from it.

I dont think its a commonly known factor in Pakistan hence people might say we dont suffer from it but thats wrong.

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Re: Post partum depression

My MIL was talking about her younger bahu's recent post partum depression. She mentioned how she had similar symptoms when she was having her babies so many years ago but never knew the reasons or what exactly they were. Now she understands.

bewafaye
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Re: Post partum depression

I don't think ppl in Pakistan know much about ppd---here is is considered very common. I myself had it to a certain extent but thank god it was not too serious. Having a baby is very stressful for a new mom....although it may not seem it....its actually hard to get adjusted to having a little baby for whom you must do everything. Its hard to explain how it is until you go through the experience yourself. Luckily my mum stayed with me for a few weeks and then my husband was a great help ...
Are you suffering from PPD....??

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Re: Post partum depression

You also have to take into consideration most couples living overseas are alone with no help and family.

The task of taking care of a baby after delivery all alone can be very very depressing.

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What she said..

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Re: Post partum depression

i know most women here said that they suffered from it.. but i think there is a difference between babies blues and ppd..

from what ive read (cus i thought i may have it), most women go through some kind of depression, but its baby blues.... and the very severe kind is ppd..

And, i think people in pakistan may think they dont have it, but ive seen mothers and what they go through.. it may not be ppd and only baby blues.. but because they are not educated about this, they think it does not happen to them..

i was certainly depressed for a few weeks if not a month or two.. but i had a lot of other issues associated with it. You really need ur hubby during this time and just want to be pampered.. :) neways.. i had read HEAPS about it prior to having bubz cus i had other peopel telling me they had ppd, but ppd is very very very serious...

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Re: Post partum depression

^ I thot baby blues was the mildest form of PPD?

So u guys are saying it's mostly due to one's individual circumstances rather than hormones? i can understand why it'd be rough here, being alone and all.....but then i imagine (being in pakistan) having so many people around to judge you based on what you had, how ur raising them, how u look, not to mention whatever in-laws drama exists, would be enough to drive women into depression? Anyways, thanks all for the insight :)

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Re: Post partum depression

Sara, I think that circumstance can have an effect on baby blues and/or PPD but that its definitely not the cause. I mean, when you're pregnant, hormone levels increase thousands of times. When you deliver, they DECREASE thousands of times. And I think we all know that hormones have a pretty big effect on our emotional state. The extreme roller coaster ride of pregnancy hormones surely is the biggest cause of PPD.

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totally agreed

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