Post partum essays

The essential connection seems to be difficulty bonding and bonding is essential to the process of maternal-infant attachment. There also appears to be an inverse relationship between the strength of the attachment and the risk of postpartum depression, such that both mother and child benefit from a strong attachment to each other.

Postpartum depression is widely recognized as a significant health threat to the mother and the rest of the family, and thus to society, but the biggest threat is to the lifetime health prospects of the newborn infant.

It is caused by chemicals produced in the brain going haywire after the hormones are thrown off balanced by pregnancy. Postpartum depression’s effects vary for each woman, symptoms often include mood swings, anger, anxiety, panic attacks, weight loss/gain, insomnia, etc. Postpartum depression is very common but often goes undiagnosed and treated.

Also looking at the behavioral perspective of postpartum depression gives a good insight on the mother’s actions.