Perinatal distress (PND) is more common than most people imagine. Previously known as post-natal depression, it has been renamed recently. “Perinatal” indicates that these feelings may emerge at any time around the birth of your baby.
So it may manifest during pregnancy, shortly after the birth or as long as 18 months later.
Recent stats show that up to 85 percent of new mothers experience periods of tearfulness and despair during the first few weeks after their baby’s birth.
These mood disruptions normally resolve within a few weeks as the new mom’s hormones settle down and she gets to know her baby. However, some new mothers experience prolonged periods of anxiety, helplessness and feelings of despair, which falls into the category of PND.
The word “distress” indicates that the feelings a mom may experience are not limited to simply feeling depressed and down in the dumps, but may include feeling overly anxious and distressed about caring for her new baby.
Many mothers resist seeking help as they see perinatal distress as a sign of poor parenting skills or declining mental health.
It is important, however, that the symptoms are recognised as soon as possible, so that professional help can be sought.
In many instances medication is required, but often a supportive home environment and extensive psychological counselling helps.
Some indicators of perinatal distress may be if you feel:
* Out of control, frustrated and very irritable.
* Scared or panicky, anxious and worried, sad or miserable most of the time.
* Unable to laugh or to feel joy.
* Unable to cope.
* Afraid to be alone.
* Unusually tearful.
* As though you are going crazy.
Or if you have:
* Difficulty sleeping.
* No sex drive.
* Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby.
Calmer babies mean less stressed mothers, and less stressed mothers are able to rear babies better. Encouraging good sleeping habits means being able to understand a baby’s signals.
It is true that babies can suffer from wind and cramps at times, and will express their discomfort by crying. But we know that one of the main reasons for a fussy baby is related more to how much stimulation the baby gets.
An overtired baby of any age will battle with over-stimulation and become agitated.
So the real secret is to study your baby’s awake times with care.
The book Baby Sense by Ann Richardson & Megan Faure (Metz Press) helps you with these guidelines by recommending optimal or maximal awake periods (in between sleeps during the day) for different ages or stages in the baby’s maturation cycle.
Beyond these limits, a whole series of behavioural patterns may kick in, resulting ultimately in irritation and crying. An over-stimulated baby is a tired baby… and ironically, will not fall asleep but become quite disruptive.
Some of the behavioural traits that signal the onset of the “over-stimulated state” are unrestrained kicking and squirming, lack of eye contact, hiccuping, sneezing, yawning and hand-fisting. These are often misinterpreted as “colic”. Yet, this is the time to swaddle your baby, modulate his environment, and help him to become calm by rocking and encouraging non-nutritive sucking (a dummy or your finger). This will make it easier to put him to bed.
* If you feel that you may be suffering from perinatal distress. Please seek help. Call the PNDSA helpline at 082 882 0072 or go to www.pndsa.org.za.
** Richardson is co-author of Baby Sense and Sleep Sense.
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Johnson’s Baby Sense seminars help parents navigate the jungle of parenting information
With the wealth of information available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of facts or to be confused by different points of view and opinions.
The Johnson’s Baby Sense seminars are designed to convey concise and expert information to moms-to-be and new parents with babies up to 12 months of age. The seminars are now in their 12th year and have become a vital and credible source of to-the-point information.
Parenting experts this year include Sr Ann Richardson (co-author of Baby Sense and Sleep Sense), Tina Otte (midwife and special editor of Your Pregnancy), Lizanne du Plessis (author of Raising Happy Children), Kate Bailey (early childhood development and stimulation expert) and Dr Welma Lubbe (registered nurse and advanced midwife with qualifications in neonatal nursing science).
This panel of experts will assist parents with invaluable information on a variety of topics that are close to a new parent’s heart.
There is a morning and afternoon session, as well as a baby massage workshop between the sessions.
The seminar in Durban takes place on August 15 at the Three Cities Riverside Hotel.
Cost per seminar is R240 and R60 for the massage workshop. Each person attending will receive a goodie bag, refreshments and a chance to win amazing prizes.
Moms with babies under six months are welcome to bring them with. For bookings, visit www.babysense.com