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- I had very severe postpartum depression with my first child and was hospitalized. I'm pregnant again; could it happen again?
- Can you give me any advice on how to stay emotionally stable during the fertility treatment process?
- I've been taking antidepressants for two years. If I want to get pregnant, do I have to stop taking the medication?
- I've been trying to get pregnant for a long time, and now that I am, I'm feeling anxious and worried. I'd like to enjoy this moment, but I can't. What can I do?
- I've heard that women with schizophrenia can't be mothers. Is that true?
- I have bipolar disorder and I want to be a mother, but I have many doubts. What things do I need to consider?
- I'm a first-time mother and had a very difficult delivery. Since then, I've been having recurring nightmares. I want to have more children, but I'm afraid I won't be able to cope with this situation. What do you recommend?
- How can I tell if I have postpartum depression?
- I recently became a mother and sometimes I burst into tears for no reason. Is this normal? Is it depression?
- We recently became parents, and I've noticed my partner seems sad and withdrawn. I'm afraid she might have postpartum depression. What can we, as a family, do to prevent it?
- Do I have to stop breastfeeding if I take medication for anxiety?
- I have a one-and-a-half-month-old baby and sometimes I don't feel the emotional bond that mothers are supposed to feel. Is this normal?
- I've always had a lot of anxiety. What can I do to keep it under control during my pregnancy?
- I'm in the first few weeks postpartum and I'm experiencing anxiety. How can I manage it, especially with visitors?
- I have a baby with special needs and I'm so tired and overwhelmed I feel like I'm going to explode. What can I do?
- Since becoming a mother, I haven't been feeling well: everything makes me anxious, I feel sad, I don't think I'll be a good mother, and I often argue with my partner. Where can I ask for help?
- I had depression and now I'm pregnant. Could breastfeeding be a protective factor against a possible relapse?
How can I tell if I have postpartum depression?
Carla Jané Balsebre
Lead psychologist for the perinatal mental health program at the CSMA in Cornellà
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Depression is an illness characterized by intense and persistent feelings of sadness. It's important not to confuse sadness with depression; sadness is a normal emotion and falls within the usual range of mood fluctuations. Depression is not simply having a bad day, but rather a state in which a person is affected holistically.
The signs that could indicate we are suffering from postpartum depression are:
- Intense and persistent feelings of sadness (more than two weeks).
- Uncontrollable crying.
- Loss of interest and difficulty in enjoying activities that we used to enjoy.
- Sleep and appetite disturbances.
- Difficulties in carrying out daily activities.
- Difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking.
- Feelings of guilt for not being the mother we hoped to be.
- Doubts about our ability to care for the child, feelings of inadequacy
- Difficulties bonding with the baby.
- Thinking that we made a mistake in having a son or daughter.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
If you identify with this, it's important to consult a healthcare professional.
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Carla Jané Balsebre
Lead psychologist for the perinatal mental health program at the CSMA in Cornellà
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu
Laia Villalta Macià
Child and adolescent psychiatrist. Unit 0-5
Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona