In fact, what is now called post-natal depression is not one disease, but three: postpartum sadness, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. They may be single stage process or develop separately.

Postpartum sadness manifested in the reduction of the general mood, fatigue, sudden occurrence of tears. These symptoms occur in the majority of women who gave birth in the first months after birth.

Postpartum psychosis is rare - it occurs in one of the thousands of women who gave birth. Postpartum psychosis manifests pronounced lethargy, withdrawal, indifference to the child and others. The condition is very dangerous for both the woman and for her family in the first place - for the child, and requires immediate treatment by a psychiatrist.

The earlier treatment is started, the faster the healing, often may not even require hospitalization and outpatient treatment saves breastfeeding. The improvement comes quickly enough, but for one - two years, the woman is under the supervision of a specialist.

All intermediate states fit into the concept of postpartum depression Depression - a little more than a bad mood .

The causes of postpartum depression

The emergence of depression contributes to endocrine dysfunction. In the blood postpartum women progesterone decreases sharply Progesterone - norm and pathology   and triiodothyronine, changing the concentration of calcium, steroid hormones, electrolytes, Trp, and many other components.

Aggravating factors is unwanted pregnancy, psychological instability in the family, or the presence of stress factors. Often the woman is suffering due to the disappointments - nine months of pregnancy, the expectant mother wanted the child. In her dreams, he was perfect, tight-lipped, pink, rosy, lying quietly most of the time in his crib. Having postpartum screaming, baby requires constant attention, a woman is not ready for it. The same applies to their appearance, because many people think that immediately after birth they will look like before pregnancy. In fact, this is not true - and another reason for disappointment.

Compounding the problem of lack of understanding of the situation of women who gave birth relatives instead to help her, a woman accused of failure as a mother and wife.

All these factors give rise to post-natal depression. It manifests itself in expressions generally negative-slabodushnom background in abundant tearfulness no reason, rapid physical exhaustion before syncope occurs neurotic pain, development psevdosomaticheskih diseases often hysterical breakdowns. One woman can be from one to several symptoms of varying severity.

Prevention and treatment of postpartum depression

Postpartum depression can not be. For this purpose, the pregnancy was planned or desired, and the woman was surrounded by loving people in a really suiting her relationship. It has to be convinced that she and the baby after birth will not need, they will be able to save the habitual way of life.

Well, when after discharge from the maternity ward of a woman falls in comfort by her loved ones, and some homework take the spouse, parents or grown children.

Prevention of depression promote breastfeeding on demand, co-sleeping Dreams: how to understand our dreams Since in this case the child is calmer and the mother is less cause for concern.

If the depression came, is very good "day off" for my mother when she was released on a two - three hours from home once a week to a woman could easily visit your favorite shops, beauty salon, massage, or exercise.

If there is no effect, it is advisable to turn to a therapist.

Svetlana Shimkovich

  Premature birth - is the beginning of birth between 20 and 37 weeks of pregnancy. Full-term pregnancy is considered to be between 37 and 42 weeks. During childbirth the uterus contracts and the cervix opens. So begins the birth of a child.

What are the risks of premature birth?

The earlier the birth, the greater the risk of complications for the baby. The reason for this is that some organs of the child such as the heart and lungs may not be completely formed. Premature babies born after 32 weeks of pregnancy generally have less chance of complications than those born earlier.

For those born before 24 weeks of pregnancy, the chances of survival are extremely slim. And those who survive usually have serious health problems, such as learning difficulties or poor motor skills.

What causes preterm labor?

Premature birth can be caused by problems of the mother, baby or both. Often, the cause remains unknown.

Preterm labor often occur due to natural causes. But sometimes doctors use drugs or other methods to artificially induce labor, as further pregnancy poses a threat to the mother or child.

The causes of premature birth are:

• Premature detachment of the placenta from the uterus.
• Multiple pregnancies - twins or triplets.
• Infection of the uterus, which causes the onset of labor.
• Problems with the uterus or cervix.
• Use of alcohol or drugs.
• Amniotic fluid begin to depart earlier.

Means of infertility treatment Infertility Treatment - What principles are priority   often lead to the fact that women are more likely to give birth to double and even triple. It also increases the number of premature births.

What are the symptoms?

It may be difficult to determine when labor begins, particularly premature. Symptoms may include:

• Regular contractions for an hour. That is 4 or more for 20 minutes or 8 or more an hour, even after you've rested and drank a glass of water.
• Fluid from the vagina. You may notice that it is pink or reddish.
• Pain similar to menstrual cramps, possibly accompanied by diarrhea.
• The feeling of pressure in the pelvis and abdomen.
• Dull pain in the lower back, pelvis, abdomen and thighs, which does not pass
• Poor health, including fever and fatigue. Pressing the abdomen may be painful.

If the bout ended, perhaps they were Braxton Hicks contractions. They can cause discomfort, but does not cause severe pain. It is believed that it is like a training session before the actual fights. But sometimes they are difficult to distinguish.

If the fight does not stop, the cervix begins to open. Before or after the fights can break the amniotic sac, causing leakage of amniotic fluid. This is called a rupture mebmrany. Break up fights membarny called premature rupture of membranes.

How to diagnose preterm labor?

If you think that you went into premature labor, call your doctor or midwife. The specialist will be able to check whether you have moved the water if there is an infection and expanded if the cervix. Your doctor may also take blood and urine tests to find out what problems can cause premature labor. Checking the fetal heartbeat and ultrasound can help your doctor to see if all is well in the child. Through analysis of amniotic fluid can be determined, whether formed before the end of the baby's lungs.

What if premature birth?

If you went into premature labor, the physician must weigh the risks of early birth and the risks of delaying childbirth. The doctor may:

• Try to delay delivery by the medication.
• Use antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future? To prevent or cure the infection. If you have a torn amniotic membrane, the increased risk of infection.
• To give you steroids to prepare for the birth of the baby's lungs.
• To treat problems caused by complications of pregnancy.
• Let leave to proceed, as it is safer for both mother and child than to prolong the pregnancy.

The most common symptoms of preterm labor:

• Contractions of the uterus or tangible reduction
• Cramping in the lower abdomen Abdominal pain: when to sound the alarm? Similar to recurrent pain (cramping pain during menstruation)
• Increasing the pressure in the bladder Urinary bladder - structure and function   and vagina
• Increased urination
• Fluid leakage
• Vaginal bleeding
• Reducing the mobility of the fetus

If you are in the eighth month of pregnancy or the period of the pregnancy exceeds 30 weeks, a threat to the life of the child is very small. Most likely, after the premature birth the baby will have to spend some time in the NICU. If the child is born before 30 weeks of pregnancy, there is a real threat to his life, but in intensive care he will spend a month or more.

If you have symptoms of preterm birth immediately contact your doctor or midwife and let them know about their condition, without missing a single detail. Depending on the seriousness of the situation or the doctor will advise you immediately come to the hospital for examination, or to lie down and wait for further developments - often the symptoms are false.

In the event of hospitalization and childbirth threaten you prepare for labor, will be given a gown, be connected to the system monitoring the status of the mother and check the expansion of the cervix. If labor is not yet too late to stop, you will be given medications that remove uterine tonic and helps stop the fights. In rare cases, when there is a threat of loss of pregnancy, a woman is hospitalized before the end of pregnancy (put "conservation") - for a few days, weeks or even months.

If labor can not be stopped, new mother an injection of steroids to accelerate the maturation of the baby's lungs, which increases the chances of survival after a baby out of the womb. In the event of premature birth a woman can only trust the doctors and midwives, on which depends the life of a child.