What Is Postpartum Depression?
2. Causes
There are different potential causes of postpartum depression, and they tend to be emotional or physical. Emotional causes tend to be down to the demands involved with caring for a baby. It can be very hard work and parents will often get little sleep. The patient may also sometimes feel as though their new responsibilities have taken over their life, and they may also feel less attractive.
Physical changes tend to mean a change in hormone levels in the body. Hormone production in the thyroid gland can fall away, as can levels of progesterone and estrogen. These can leave the patient feeling lethargic and fatigued, and it can also lead to depression.
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