How prevalent is postpartum depression after a miscarriage

According to a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year around 2 million babies are stillborn and moreover these deaths are preventable. These numbers could be even higher since many stillbirths in some developed countries are not systematically recorded. A stillbirth or a miscarriage can impact the mental and physical health of the mother who encountered the death of her unborn child. A pregnancy brings with it a lot of hormonal, physical and mental changes such as morning sickness, increased urination, hormonal rush or emotional breakdown, but what motivates a mother to withstand such challenges is the dream to welcome a new life.

In a sudden moment due to certain health complications when a mother loses her foetus, she not only loses her physical strength but an entire future that she had been planning ever since she got the news. It is obvious to be extremely disheartened, lifeless, and depressed after encountering a miscarriage.

A report shows that around 43% of women who experienced miscarriages were found to have depression, anxiety disorders, or psychological disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder or bipolar disorder. Just like a normal depression, the primary technique to diagnose this condition is through examining the symptoms like:

• Feeling hopeless and empty
  
• Loss of interest or pleasure in favourite activities
• Weight loss or appetite loss
• Irregular sleep patterns
• Restlessness
• Energy loss
• Guilt and feeling unrequired
• Concentration problems or increased indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal thoughts

The treatment is generally a mix of psychological and medical interventions.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy are used during psychological treatment. While the medical treatment encompasses the use of antidepressant drugs, hormone therapy, antipsychotic medicines and mood stabilisers.

However one can still continue taking these medications while actively trying to conceive or the subsequent pregnancy.

To overcome any severe trouble in life, the support of family and friends is pivotal. A depressed woman because of her miscarriage definitely requires to share her grief with her close ones, since this practice can remarkably make the affected woman feel less alone.

While consoling the affected woman, a person should be very vigilant in using words since it could at times sound hurtful and make her feel more alone and guilty. Try sharing experiences of such complications while normalising this problem and reassuring her that she could conceive anytime again.