What is the difference between “baby blues”, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis?

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), the baby blues can happen in the days right after childbirth and normally go away within a few days to a week.
A new mother can sudden experience mood swings, sadness, crying spells, loss of appetite, sleeping problems, and feel irritable, restless, anxious, and lonely. Symptoms are not severe and treatment isn’t needed. But there are things you can do to help your spouse feel better. Make sure she naps when the baby does Postpartum depression can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth. A woman may have a number of symptoms such as sadness, lack of energy, trouble concentrating, anxiety, and feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
The difference between postpartum depression and the baby blues is that postpartum depression often affects a woman’s well-being and keeps her from functioning well for a longer period of time. Postpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor. Counseling, support groups, and medicines are things that can help. Postpartum psychosis is known to be rare.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), it occurs in 1 or 2 out of every 1000 births and usually begins in the first 6 weeks postpartum. Women who have bipolar disorder or another psychiatric problem called schizoaffective disorder are known to have a higher risk for developing postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, sleep disturbances, and obsessive thoughts about the baby. A woman may have rapid mood swings, from depression to irritability to euphoria.

Tips on Choosing Childbirth Options

This may be a good time during the pregnancy for your spouse to give a thought to the manner of delivery she wishes to opt for. The options-natural, induced, or cesarean-all have their pros and cons.

Natural delivery

• This is the most common method of childbirth.
• It does not involve an extended stay in a hospital.
• The risks associated with major surgery are avoided.
• This method of delivery makes breastfeeding easier.
• The mother can actively participate in the childbirth.

Induced delivery

• In this method, labor is artificially induced rather than spontaneous.
• It avoids complications in post-term babies.
• The pregnant mom, or her doctor, can decide when to go in for labor.
• Studies report that women who have induced labor are less likely to develop chorioamnionitis, an infection of the placental membranes.

Cesarean section

• In this method, delivery is surgically carried out through an incision made by the doctor in the abdomen and uterus.
• It is required if labor does not progress normally.
• It is also required in case of a complication in the pregnancy.
• It is useful in cases where the fetus has been diagnosed with a developmental problem.
• It is helpful in cases of women carrying twins, triplets, or multiples.
• Cesarean is also used in the cases where the mom has herpes or similar infections, to prevent the baby from contracting these infections.

Importance of Writing a Birth Plan

While this might seem like something for your wife to do, it’s important that you, as a supporting cast member, be very involved in making the decisions now on how labor and delivery will unfold.

Some decisions must be your wife’s alone, like whether to have an epidural or allow for an episiotomy, and in those cases, your role is to be supportive of her decision. But there are other decisions that may even fall uniquely to you as well.

Do you want to “catch” the baby as he comes out? Do you want to cut the umbilical cord (sometimes also an option for mom)? Some of these questions will be easier than others, but consider: Will you allow the staff to provide formula milk, which may interfere with the start of breastfeeding? Do you want your new baby to lie on mommy’s chest as soon as possible after birth? Will you allow videos or photos taken during delivery? It is very important that you and mom-to-be write all these decisions down and discuss them openly so there is no difference of opinion in the delivery room, either with the hospital staff, and especially between you and your partner.

Make sure to provide a copy of this plan to your doctor and bring one to the hospital to put in your records.

Your spouse will soon be approaching her due date. The actual event of birth can always spring some surprises when you least expect them. Drawing up a birth plan that clearly lists your preferences and expectations will help you handle emergencies better.

These are some typical questions, the answers to which will help you draw up a birth plan. Some concern issues that require both you and your spouse to decide upon jointly. The others may be left for the mother alone to state her preferences-in consultation with her obstetrician if so required. Be ready to offer your suggestions if she asks for them, though.

Questions for mom and dad

• How would you prefer your baby’s heartbeat to be monitored?
• Should you, as the dad, be the one to cut the umbilical cord?
• Will you opt for cord-blood banking for your baby?
• Would you want a pacifier for your baby after birth?
• Do you want your baby, if a boy, to be circumcised?

Questions only for mom

• Should the delivery take place at home, at a birth center, or in a hospital?
• Whom would she prefer to have around her during the delivery?
• Would she prefer to take medication to manage pain? If so, which?
• Should she be given fluids intravenously, or would she prefer to drink them orally?
• Would she prefer to have a mirror, in position before her, to enable her to see the baby being born?
• Would she prefer breastfeeding? If so, would she prefer to nurse immediately after delivery?
• Should your older children, if any, be present in the hospital after the delivery?
• How long would she prefer to stay in the hospital?

Tips That “Might” Get (Some) of Your Sex Life Back

The early years of courtship and marriage are usually full of romance… and sex. Soon however, the chores of bringing up children, domestic duties, and professional goals take their toll, and sex often takes a backseat. However, there are ways to liven up your sagging sex life.

* Introduce surprises: One reason for the lack of sex in the lives of couples who have been married a few years, could be the predictability that creeps into their lives. The solution: Infuse little surprises into your love life. Stick little ‘love notes’ where your spouse would least expect them, on her pillow, or in her bag, etc. Surprise her by arranging a romantic candle light dinner. A great idea would be to pack off the kids to their grandparents and plan a romantic weekend somewhere.

* Enjoy things together: An important way to get your love life back is to create the time to spend together. If there is something you both like to do, now is the time to indulge yourself. Enroll for a dance class, take up tennis, go on long cycling trips…whatever.

* Write letters: For women, sex is mental—they are turned on by words. One sure way of boosting your love life is to start writing letters to your spouse. You can tell her how much you love her, and what it is about her that you love. Receiving letters from you is sure to turn her on and help to rekindle your sex life.

* Read about sex: Start reading erotic literature together. There is nothing like reading sex stories as a prelude to a stormy session in bed.

* Share your fantasies: Once you get over the initial awkwardness, you are sure to enjoy this. You will be surprised at the wonders it does to your sex life.

Draw up a Birth Plan

Your spouse will soon be approaching her due date. The actual event of birth can always spring some surprises when you least expect them. Drawing up a birth plan that clearly lists your preferences and expectations will help you handle emergencies better.

These are some typical questions, the answers to which will help you draw up a birth plan. Some concern issues that require both you and your spouse to decide upon jointly. The others may be left for the mother alone to state her preferences—in consultation with her obstetrician if so required. Be ready to offer your suggestions if she asks for them, though.

Questions for mom and dad

* How would you prefer your baby’s heartbeat to be monitored?

* Should you, as the dad, be the one to cut the umbilical cord?

* Will you opt for cord-blood banking for your baby?

* Would you want a pacifier for your baby after birth?

* Do you want your baby, if a boy, to be circumcised?

Questions only for mom

* Should the delivery take place at home, at a birth center, or in a hospital?

* Whom would she prefer to have around her during the delivery?

* Would she prefer to take medication to manage pain? If so, which?

* Should she be given fluids intravenously, or would she prefer to drink them orally?

* Would she prefer to have a mirror, in position before her, to enable her to see the baby being born?

* Would she prefer breastfeeding? If so, would she prefer to nurse immediately after delivery?

* Should your older children, if any, be present in the hospital after the delivery?

* How long would she prefer to stay in the hospital?

Feeling fetal movements

Around this time, your spouse might begin to feel the first movements of your baby developing inside her womb. These fetal movements should be a reassuring sign for both of you that all is well with your baby.

When and how do fetal movements appear?
While there is no fixed period in the pregnancy when fetal movements appear, for most women this is after about 16 weeks. Your spouse may not describe anything very sensational, just a kind of light tapping or fluttering inside the stomach. In fact, if she is a first time mom, it may take her some time to recognize these as the movements of the baby. With time, she will be able to make out the baby’s activity cycle in more detail, and identify causes which trigger maximum activity.

Can only the mom feel fetal movements?
As the pregnancy advances and the movements become stronger, you will be able to feel them by placing your hands on your partner’s abdomen.

What can fetal movements do?
Fetal movements are an important clue to knowing that everything is fine with your baby. A sudden change or drop in the pattern of these movements, for instance, may indicate that something might be wrong inside. Some doctors even suggest a daily ‘fetal kick count.’ One way to do this is for your spouse to set aside a part of the day when she knows, by experience, the baby to be at its most active. She can then time how long it takes to feel ten distinct movements. If she experiences less than ten movements in two hours, this may be a sign you should consult your doctor.