Find out how motherhood can affect women’s mental health

Human behavior and mental health specialist talks about how pregnancy affects hormones

Mother’s Day week is always a great opportunity to talk about issues that permeate motherhood. Much more than giving birth, being a mother is often about giving up on yourself to take care of a new life that comes into the world. The problem is that not all mothers, when they give birth, are emotionally stable to practice motherhood.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jéssica Martani, a specialist in human behavior and mental health, explains that motherhood is something much more laborious and requires stability of mood to do it. In nature it is possible to perceive what a maternity Loving, calm, dedicated and affectionate. The emotionally stable mother can look her offspring in her eyes, hug, warm, caress and smile. The developing offspring, in turn, when she receives these maternal stimuli, activates emotional areas that will be important for when, in the future, she will have to deal adequately with positive or negative emotions, ”says the doctor.

The impact of maternal health on the life of the child

As in animal nature, the stability of the mother during pregnancy, nursing and the first years of a child’s life is very important for stability. emotional of the child when you become an adult. “Many mothers do not realize that being stressed, depressed, irritable, cold and numb in the postpartum period and in the early years of child rearing can deeply affect their children,” warns the psychiatrist.

In this sense, affection and affection are fundamental in early childhood, and reflections are seen in adult life, both in positive and negative aspects. Therefore, those mothers who are not feeling well emotionally after pregnancy need to be welcomed and helped. “No mother is biologically aggressive to her offspring without being sick. They [as mães] they need help, because they are undergoing physiological changes that directly affect their emotional health,” says the doctor.

How pregnancy affects hormones

The psychiatrist Dr. Jessica Martani, a human behavior and mental health specialist, talks about the different stages of motherhood and how it can affect the mind.

Pregnancy

Progesterone and estrogen – female hormones that regulate the reproductive cycle – are partly responsible for the major mood swings during pregnancy. It’s kind of like giant PMS.

even when the pregnancy is well planned, many mothers are filled with worries about the future, the relationship with the partner or the financial responsibilities that will increase. Some physical effects of pregnancy, such as heartburn, tiredness, and the frequent need to pee, also end up interfering more with your emotions. Nausea, to make matters worse, ruins one of life’s pleasures, which is eating something delicious.

Mood ups and downs are usually most pronounced in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. They tend to decrease as the body adjusts to the hormonal bombardment it is subjected to. But, just at the end of the pregnancy, with the anxiety of approaching childbirthsensitivity may also increase.

Postpartum

At the same rate that estrogen levels drop sharply in the three to four days after the baby is born, there is an increase in the enzyme monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) in the brain. The enzyme breaks down the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine which, in addition to being responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells, also affect mood.

In this case, if the functioning of the neurotransmitters is compromised, the person initially feels sad and, after a certain time, runs the risk of feeling sad. depressed. The highest levels were recorded on day five postpartum, coinciding with the day when the mothers’ mood is at its lowest.

Baby blues

Postpartum depression is a disorder characterized by symptoms similar to those of common depression: depressed mood, little desire to leave the house, social isolation, intense and frequent sadness, altered appetite and sleep patterns. The difference, however, is that, in postpartum depression, these symptoms appear in the mother, between one month and one year after the birth of the baby.

The doctor says many new mothers experience mood swings and crying spells after giving birth, but these go away quickly. “This happens mainly due to hormonal changes following the end of pregnancy. However, some mothers experience these symptoms more intensely, resulting in postpartum depression,” she says.

The psychiatrist emphasizes that postpartum depression is not a character flaw or weakness. “Women suffering from postpartum depression need immediate treatment,” she warns.

Some causes of postpartum depression

To understand more about the disorder and how it affects a woman’s physical and mental health, Dr. Jessica has listed some possible causes below.

biological causes

After giving birth, there is a dramatic drop in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and these changes alone can contribute to postpartum depression. Other hormones produced by the thyroid gland can also drop sharply, which can increase tiredness and feelings of sadness. Additionally, changes in blood volume, blood pressure, the immune system, and metabolism can all contribute to fatigue and mood swings.

emotional causes

When humans are sleep deprived and suffer from some kind of stress or psychological pressure, they can have trouble coping with everyday situations. The woman may also feel less attractive or feel that she has lost control of her life; concern may arise about one’s ability to educate a newborn and the anxiety to provide a good life for the child. Each of these factors can contribute to postpartum depression.

situational causes

Many lifestyle factors can lead to postpartum depression: difficulties breastfeeding, jealous older children, financial problems, lack of support from a partner or other family members. The doctor says that all of these can lead to maternal burnout and signs such as constant sadness or despair, loss of interest in daily activities, weight loss or gain, lack of sleep, restlessness or indisposition, tiredness and uncontrolled anxiety can already be symptoms of depression .

“If left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere beyond maternal bonding and still leave babies prone to have behavioral problems, developmental delays, and even hyperactivity in the future,” says the doctor, who adds, “treatment must be sought and, many Sometimes, it can only be simple with the help of pharmacological medications with antidepressants, psychotherapy and lifestyle changes,” he concludes.

By Mayra Barreto Cinel

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.