Part 1 of Entry into “Speakers Ball” Challenge:

http://cherispeak.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/speakers-ball-bloggers-challenge/

The term postpartum depression is seen as a terrifying nightmare for women marked by mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, and, in some cases, suicidal thoughts.   Traditionally, this condition is given the cute name of ‘baby blues’, but it can grow into a severe bout of depression and even the extreme postpartum psychosis.  For many women, this condition can be both crippling and dangerous for both them and their newborn child.

Many people believe that this is a sign of character weakness or a scam by new mothers to get more attention.  The truth is that this is a very real post-birth complication that does not fade away like the baby blues.  True postpartum depression requires psychological treatment, which is difficult because it is typically hidden.  In a culture where a mother is supposed to be joyful and happy, the idea that a new mother is depressed and sad is nearly taboo.  Many times, the problem isn’t caught until the mother has had a breakdown or has attempted to harm her newborn child.  By this point, great damage has already been done and a lot of time and patience are needed and effort needed to recover.

It is believed that there is a genetic vulnerability to this condition, which can be set off by the stress of a difficult birth or the stress of being new parents.  Sources of stress can range from marital problems to an absence of support during and after the pregnancy.  There is also the possibility of the father incurring hormonal changes after the birth, which can lead to him becoming an unintentional catalyst for postpartum depression.

There are many therapies and treatments that have been developed for postpartum depression.  Various therapies and medications are used to treat this condition, but it is also very important for new parents to be educated on postpartum depression.  With this knowledge, supplied in the related articles, new parents can recognize the signs, minimize the factors that can trigger or exasperate postpartum depression, and quickly get help.

Related articles:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/postpartum-depression/DS00546

http://www.jpost.com/Health/Article.aspx?id=270635

http://www.medicinenet.com/postpartum_depression/article.htm

(I’m really bad at writing in a journalistic style, so this is my best attempt for the contest.  Hopefully, I do better on part 2, which seems to be a bit more on the fictional side of things.)