Postnatal Depression / Postpartum Depression
For many parents, having a baby is a wonderful experience. However, the period following the birth of a child can be a major challenge for parents.
Contents
About Postnatal Depression
Both Parents May Suffer From Postnatal Depression
Parents (or one parent) may suffer from a form of depression known as postnatal depression (or postpartum depression). This form of depression is similar to the symptoms of depression and can occur within twelve months of the birth.
Although postnatal depression – or postpartum depression – particularly affects mothers, fathers can suffer from it just as much. This is because the changes and challenges that come with the birth of a child affect them too.
Seek help
Seek Help
Unfortunately, many mothers and fathers do not feel able to talk about their feelings and are afraid of how those around them might react. As a result, postnatal depression often goes undiagnosed and is inadequately treated. Yet early diagnosis and treatment improve the chances of a successful outcome and help those affected to return to normal life more quickly.
What can trigger postnatal depression?
Triggers of Postnatal Depression
Postnatal depression can be triggered by hormonal changes, lack of sleep, stress or difficulties adjusting to life with a newborn. Even if you have suffered from depression in the past, becoming a parent can trigger a recurrence of depression. An unhappy relationship can also trigger postnatal depression.
In addition, risk factors such as a lack of support, domestic violence, a history of depression, other medical conditions and the use of medication can increase the likelihood of postnatal depression.
A treacherous illness
Symptoms of Postnatal Depression
As with depression in general, the symptoms of postnatal depression can vary from person to person and in terms of severity.
Nevertheless, there are a number of symptoms that can help you recognise whether you are suffering from postnatal depression:
- Mood swings
- Sleep disorders
- Low mood lasting over two weeks
- Loss of appetite
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Irritability
- Difficulties in bonding with the baby
- Feeling overwhelmed
- A feeling of failure, or that you don’t love your baby
- Thoughts of self-harm or thoughts of harming the baby
- Indifference
- Feelings of guilt towards your child because you feel you cannot look after them properly or be empathetic enough
Important: Postnatal depression is only diagnosed if some of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks.
If you suspect you may be suffering from postnatal depression, early diagnosis and treatment are crucial to minimising the risk of long-term consequences.
How we can help you
Treatment of Postnatal Depression and Postpartum Depression
At the Verus Mother-Father-Child Clinic, postnatal depression is treated holistically. The diagnostic process at the clinic includes a detailed initial medical history and neuropsychological testing. An interdisciplinary team of experienced specialists, psychologists and psychotherapists, as well as creative and movement therapists, develops a personalised treatment plan for each patient. The cornerstones of the treatment are intensive one-to-one psychotherapy sessions, which are effectively complemented by our wide range of group therapies, body-oriented and movement-based therapeutic approaches, as well as creative therapy options.
We also use natural therapies, homeopathy and acupuncture to activate your body’s natural healing powers, promote your physical and mental health, and alleviate your symptoms. This helps you to restore your physical and emotional balance.
Before you leave, we will help you prepare for your discharge. Your lead therapist and the Head Physician will plan and discuss the preparatory steps with you. We will provide you with tools and methods to help you apply what you have learnt in your everyday life after your stay at the clinic. We also have a social worker on site who is available to offer you advice and support.
To help you focus on the therapy process, childcare is available for your child. This also gives you plenty of time to look after your own wellbeing. Your child or children are in excellent hands with us: we have our own playground, a children’s playroom with games and craft materials, and a swimming pool, so that you and your child will want for nothing.
About postnatal trauma
Birth Trauma / Postnatal Trauma
Birth trauma can affect a mother, a father or the baby, and refers to a traumatic experience that may occur during the course of childbirth or as a result of medical care provided before or after the birth.
What can trigger birth trauma
Causes of Birth Trauma
The causes of birth trauma can include physical pain, emotional distress or unexpected complications that occur before, during or after the birth. A long and difficult labour, an emergency caesarean section, an unexpected premature birth or other complications during and after childbirth can also be triggers. However, the birth experience itself may be perceived as traumatic if it does not meet expectations or expectations.
For fathers, the experience of childbirth can be just as traumatic. The feeling of being unable to help and of being at the mercy of the situation plays a particularly significant role here.
A treacherous illness
Symptoms of Birth Trauma
The symptoms of birth trauma can vary widely and differ from person to person. Some of the symptoms include:
- Anxiety and panic attacks
- Sleep disorders and nightmares
- Depression, grief
- Feelings of loss
- Physical symptoms such as pain in the pelvic floor area or during sexual intercourse
- Women who have experienced birth trauma may also distance themselves from their child and find it difficult to form a bond
Signs from your baby
Signs of Birth Trauma in Your Baby
Your baby may also experience birth trauma. Whilst not every difficult birth leads to birth trauma, certain behavioural issues can be signs of birth trauma.
As your baby cannot yet speak, it communicates how it is feeling by crying excessively or through other symptoms such as
- Excessive crying and wailing
; sleep disturbances
; difficulties with feeding and suckling
; restlessness - Avoidance of physical contact
- Delayed physical and mental development
- Flashbacks of childbirth experiences
Important: These symptoms may also have other causes. Therefore, if the birth did not go smoothly and your child has been crying for more than 3 hours on at least 3 days a week for over 2 weeks, it is advisable to consult a paediatrician.
Open communication with your partner and healthcare staff during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period can help to prevent, or at least reduce, postnatal trauma.
For fathers, the experience of childbirth can be just as traumatic. The feeling of being unable to help and of being at the mercy of the situation plays a particularly significant role here.
How we can help you
Treatment of Birth Trauma
The aim of treatment for birth trauma is to help you come to terms with your experiences, reduce your mental and physical symptoms, and restore your sense of safety, control and trust. The treatment also aims to improve your relationship with your child and/or partner and to equip you with coping strategies.
In-hospital treatment of birth trauma can lead to rapid stabilisation and reduce the risk of subsequent traumatic conditions. Early intervention increases the chances of successful treatment.
At the Verus Clinic, we offer specialised treatment programmes for women and/or fathers who have experienced birth trauma, working in an interdisciplinary manner with various specialist departments.
Our therapists have experience in treating birth trauma and tailor the therapy to the individual needs and circumstances of each patient.
Treatment usually takes the form of psychotherapeutic support (individual and group psychotherapy) and may include other therapies using a variety of approaches, such as EMDR, trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or Somatic Experiencing.
Other therapeutic approaches may include, amongst other things, body-oriented psychotherapy, talk therapy, art therapy, movement therapy and relaxation techniques, family therapy and the prescription of medication.
Natural remedies, homeopathy, acupuncture and other complementary therapies can also help you to activate your body’s natural healing powers and promote your physical and mental health.
Our treatment methods
How We Can Treat You and Help You
Diagnostic procedures at the Verus Clinic therefore include a detailed initial medical history, selected psychological tests and the latest neuropsychological assessment methods.
Art Therapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment As a further means of facilitating access to inner psychological processes, art therapy has been successfully integrated into our therapeutic
Body-Oriented Psychotherapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment Body-oriented psychotherapy can be understood as a form of psychotherapy that takes into account both the psychological and physical aspects
Complementary Therapies
Treatment methods Other Forms of Treatment Yoga: Greater flexibility for the whole body. Learning to be more aware of your body. Bringing the body, emotions
Group Psychotherapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment Through dialogue with other group participants and by witnessing the inner psychological challenges each individual faces, you will realise that
Individual Psychotherapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment The aim of the one-to-one sessions is to bring about a change in these circumstances through helpful coping strategies, resource-building
Music Therapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment Music therapy is an experience-centred psychotherapeutic approach in which music is used as a non-verbal medium of creative expression. The
Pain Management Supplemented by TCM
Treatment methods About the Treatment For a long time, pain management was not considered one of modern medicine’s success stories. It was only gradually that
Psychotherapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment Psychotherapy literally means ‘treatment of the soul’. In psychotherapy, psychological methods are used to identify and treat ‘problems of the
Trauma Therapy
Treatment methods About the Treatment Trauma arises when our physical and/or psychological integrity is violated and the person affected is left feeling helpless, at the
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