Indian Journal of Health Social Work
ROLE OF FAMILY IN POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION: A CASE REPORT
Shubham1, Dipanjan Bhattacharjee2, Narendra Kumar Singh3
1Medical Social Service Officer, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, 2Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, CIP, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand, 3Psychiatric Social Worker, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, CIP, Kanke, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Correspondence: Shubham, e-mail id: shubhambhu08@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Motherhood brings deep emotional changes ranging from happiness and bliss of giving birth to one’s own child to added responsibilities, serious changes in the life of a woman and her body, fear and worries associated to child care and rearing, permanent changes concerned around family, workplace and social circles. As a new mother, women face a lot of challenges getting used to live with a baby and also keep dealing with lack of sleep, new responsibilities, breast pain if nursing. It can start commonly during the first 3 weeks after child birth. Studies indicate that in 10,000 moms with new-borns found that about 1 in 7 get post-partum depression. If left untreated, the condition may last months or longer. It doesn’t just affect first-time mothers but can get even if a mother didn’t have it when other children were born. Those who develop postpartum depression are at greater risk of developing major depression later on in life. It can be treated through counselling, antidepressants or hormone therapy.
Keywords: Post-partum depression, responsibilities, care, permanent changes, challenges.
