The perinatal period in a woman’s life is the period of pregnancy till 4-6 weeks after the baby is born and since this is a big transition phase in a woman’s life, they go through tremendous stress, anxiety and depression. Perinatal depression can happen in either the prenatal period or the post-natal period where besides the environmental factors, changing routines and one’s own mental state, the depressive state can also be caused by various health issues such as anaemia, bleeding, gestation hyperglycemia, weight gain, fatigue, hypoglycemia, breathing difficulty, back pain that develops during this time etc.
While we look at managing this condition, we should look into a solution that addresses many of these causes. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Manoj Kutteri, Medical Director and CEO of Atmantan Wellness Centre, explained, “Perinatal depression is a very common mood disorder and about 15-20% of women during pregnancy or after childbirth go through this state. They may or may not have any history of depression in their early life. If not treated or addressed properly, this can also lead to other complications such as acute insomnia, bonding issues with the baby, gut-related illnesses and suicidal tendencies etc.”
He elaborated, “Besides the change in one’s routine, hormonal changes also play a crucial role in the occurrence of perinatal depression. It is believed that the sudden drop in estrogen and progesterone immediately after childbirth might be one of the contributing factors to depression. The mother-child relationships can be impaired due to this and in the long term, this can also affect emotional development and cognitive behaviour. Perinatal condition is completely manageable if it is detected early and intervention is planned.”
