Hey everyone, I am your instructor Silvia Caldwell. And I'm so excited you're deciding to join me on this journey. Welcome to phase one of an internal perspective into postpartum depression. I am so excited to go on this journey with you. Our first lesson is going to cover the importance, the basics about postpartum depression. I know you ladies are busy mamas.

So I purposely recorded this podcast style just for you. So feel free to scrub those dishes, take a bath, go on a run or do all the other things as mamas do while listening and educating ourselves. If you're ready, sit back, kick up your feet while listening. There is a relaxing beautiful image of American Lake you can grab your virtual beach chair and enjoy. So I want to remind you that this course is not medical advice. Just information on what I have experienced and have been educated on over the last seven years of my postpartum quest.

I am so passionate to share what has worked for me in my past postpartum seasons and what has not. And in my current one because the healing that has been brought to me in this timespan of my firstborn to my third born has been amazing. Also, if you didn't check out the intro video, be sure to do that for a quick preview of this five phases of this course. And to put a face with my voice. So okay, before I jump into the lesson, I want to remind you, this is not medical advice. This is just worked.

This is just what has worked for me in my healing journey. I want to encourage you if you are having any harmful thoughts, or behaviors that you know is unlike your regular self, please reach out to a counselor talk to your doctor. Dr. Tell people within your community or your significant other. Okay, mamas. So I'm super excited and honored to walk with you on this journey. I want to start by first breaking down what postpartum depression is, and all the hidden forms I have found over the years.

It is pretty crazy because postpartum depression reveals itself in many ways, from the stereotypical norm that we hear presented to us in doctors offices. I know this can seem like pretty basic and boring information, but I promise there might be some forms that you are not given information about or that you are not even aware of. Phase Two is going to be amazing though. So phase one isn't for you don't give up. I got you mama and phase two. Okay.

So the typical definition of postpartum depression that the National Institute of Mental Health gives is postpartum depression is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth. Mothers with postpartum depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, exhaustion, that may make it very difficult for them to complete their daily care and activities for themselves or for others. So what causes postpartum depression? postpartum depression does not have a single cause, but likely results from a combination of physical and emotional factors. postpartum depression does not occur because of something a mother does, or does not do. after childbirth, the levels of hormones estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body quickly job this leads to chemical changes in her brain that may trigger mood swings.

In addition, many mothers are unable to get the rest that they need to fully recover from giving birth. Constant sleep deprivation can lead to physical discomfort, exhaustion, Which can contribute to the symptoms of postpartum depression. So what are the symptoms of postpartum depression? Some of the more common symptoms a woman may experience includes feeling sad, hopeless, empty or overwhelmed, crying more often than usual or for no apparent reason at all, worrying or feeling overly anxious, feeling Moody, feeling irritable or restless, over sleeping or being unable to sleep even when her baby is asleep. Having trouble concentrating, remembering details and making decisions, experiencing anger or rage, losing interest in activities that are usually enjoyable. Suffering from physical aches and pains including frequent headaches, stomach problems or muscle pain, eating too little or too much withdrawal From or avoiding friends and family, having trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment with her baby, persistently doubting her ability to care for her baby, thinking about harming herself or her baby.

These are all the typical symptoms of postpartum depression that your midwife or ob gyn or pediatrician will tell you to look out for. However, there are four or more forms that take place. One is in the form of postpartum OCD, postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder is the most misunderstood and Miss diagnosed of the perinatal disorders. You do not have to be diagnosed with OCD to experience these common symptoms of perinatal anxiety. It is estimated that as many as three to 5% of new mothers and some new Fathers will experience these symptoms. The repetitive intrusive images and thoughts are very frightening and can feel like they come out of the blue.

Research has shown that these images are anxious in nature. They're not delusional, and they have very low risk of being acted upon. It is far more likely that the parent with this symptom take steps to avoid triggers and avoid what they fear is potential harm to the baby. Symptoms of perinatal obsessive compulsive symptoms can include obsessions, also called intrusive thoughts, which are persistent repetitive thoughts of mental images related to the baby. These thoughts are very upsetting and not something that woman has ever experienced before. compulsions where the mom may do certain things over and over again to reduce her fears and obsession.

This may include things like needing to clean, constantly checking things, many times count or reorder things, constantly checking on the baby sleeping, the list could go on. There's a sense of horror about these obsessions. There's fear of being left alone with the infant. There's hyper vigilance in protecting the infant. Moms with postpartum OCD know that their thoughts are bizarre and are very unlikely unlikely to ever act on them. During my postpartum season where I struggled, I had every type of postpartum depression.

But the OCD symptoms took place in realms of parenting techniques that I would see online, on social media and also in monitoring food. I became obsessed with every diet or parenting tip that I felt fit our family. I thought I was protecting our family, but really the anxiety that I had developed, had manifested into OCD behaviors. I also became very OCD about checking for To the point I wouldn't sleep because I thought if I were to sleep, then I wouldn't miss the opportunity to protect my firstborn from SIDS. Another type of anxiety that takes place during postpartum depression is through anxiety disorders such as panic attack disorders, panic disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder. Generalized Anxiety disorders appear to be as common as postpartum depression and even coincide with depression.

Perinatal anxiety symptoms can include the following panic attacks, hyperventilation, excessive worry, restless sleep and repeated thoughts or images of frightening things that are happening to the baby. Lastly, but most extreme is another form of postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis. postpartum psychosis is a very serious illness that can be severe And life threatening. They psychotic symptoms include delusions, thoughts that are not based in reality, hallucinations, hearing or seeing things that aren't there, or disorganized thinking. Often mothers who develop postpartum psychosis are having a severe episode of a mood disorder usually is bipolar, manic depression disorder with psychotic features. It is essential for women to get evaluation and treatment immediately.

Please see the parent and perinatal psychiatry inpatient unit page for more details on the services available for women with this serious condition. If you're in a crisis or an emergency situation, please call the UNC crisis Psychiatry at 984-974-5217 Empress option number four. Okay, so now now that we have covered the basics of postpartum depression, let's go to the internal perspective. What causes postpartum depression. postpartum depression does not have a single cause, but likely results from a combination of physical and emotional factors. postpartum depression does not occur because of something a mother does or does not do.

After childbirth, the level of hormones of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body quickly drop. This leads to chemical changes in her brain that may trigger mood swings. In addition, many mothers are unable to get the rest they need to fully recover from giving birth. Constant sleep deprivation can lead to physical discomfort exhaustion, which can contribute to the symptoms of postpartum depression. Although these are physical reasons, I want to take you on an internal quest. The same quest healed postpartum depression in me.

And I had experienced it. And it has kept me healed through my next two children over the last seven years. So I want to share this with you. So we're going to dig deep into the soul, the body and the spirit, and how that can directly affect you. This will be in phase two. Phase Two is going to address how postpartum soul care needs to be integrated with self care, making you a priority.

I know some babies are hardcore, high maintenance. This was totally my first kid. I get it, Mama, you're thinking how can I possibly have time to do all this? Some to dues for this week. Take out minimum 20 minutes for yourself each day. Take a shower by yourself.

Listen to calming music, do your hair or do your mind Make up, stretch and take deep breaths when you can. Try these out this week. And make sure to stay in community. This is so vital. If you don't have community that is life giving to you, then start venturing out look for local mom groups or feel free to join a virtual community. I have set up a Facebook postpartum page for mamas like yourself, be encouraged sisters, you are amazing Mama's and on an amazing journey to the most freedom you have ever had.

Be sure to take some time for yourself and then jump over to phase two, where I'm going to give you some information that will give you an entirely fresh perspective. postpartum depression. See you there.