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Read. Talk. Grow. Podcast: 55. Sarah Sawyer on postpartum depression and the intensity of early parenthood

A podcast where we talk about books — especially fiction, memoir and narrative nonfiction — that deal with important health topics.

Sarah Sawyer on postpartum depression and the intensity of early parenthood

Episode summary:

You’re sore, you’re sleep deprived and you’re responsible for a new life – what if you’re also struggling with your mood, depression or anxiety? In this episode, we’re talking to author Sarah Sawyer, who portrays the guilt, shame and exhaustion of postpartum depression in her novel “The Undercurrent.” Mayo Clinic psychiatrist Dr. Neeta Jain helps us understand what postpartum depression is and what you can do about it.

This episode was made possible by the generous support of Ken Stevens.

We talked with:

  • Sarah Sawyer is a graduate of Amherst College and the Bread Loaf School of English at Middlebury College. She teaches English at a boarding school in Western Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband and two children. THE UNDERCURRENT is her first book.
  • Neeta Jain, M.D., is a board-certified psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. Her interests include mood and anxiety disorders, integrated behavioral health, and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. She is an assistant professor of psychiatry at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
     

Purchase “The Undercurrent.”

From Bookshop.org.

From Amazon.

From Barnes & Noble.

 

Resources

Postpartum depression symptoms

Postpartum depression may be mistaken for baby blues at first — but the symptoms are more intense and last longer. These may eventually interfere with your ability to care for your baby and handle other daily tasks. Symptoms usually develop within the first few weeks after giving birth. But they may begin earlier — during pregnancy — or later — up to a year after birth.

Postpartum depression symptoms may include:

  • Depressed mood or severe mood swings
  • Crying too much
  • Difficulty bonding with your baby
  • Withdrawing from family and friends
  • Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual
  • Inability to sleep, called insomnia, or sleeping too much
  • Overwhelming tiredness or loss of energy
  • Less interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  • Intense irritability and anger
  • Fear that you're not a good mother
  • Hopelessness
  • Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy
  • Reduced ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions
  • Restlessness
  • Severe anxiety and panic attacks
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

It is always important to rule out medical causes for and contributors to depressive symptoms such as hypothyroidism, anemia and vitamin D deficiency. Ask your healthcare team if further workup is appropriate. 

When to see a doctor:

If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it. But if you experience any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, call your primary health care provider or your obstetrician or gynecologist and schedule an appointment. If you have symptoms that suggest you may have postpartum psychosis, get help immediately. 

It's important to call your provider as soon as possible if the symptoms of depression have any of these features:

  • Don't fade after two weeks.
  • Are getting worse.
  • Make it hard for you to care for your baby.
  • Make it hard to complete everyday tasks.
  • Include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.

If you have suicidal thoughts:

If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in taking care of your baby. Call 911 or your local emergency assistance number to get help. Also consider these options if you're having suicidal thoughts:

  • Seek help from a health care provider.
  • Call a mental health provider.
  • Contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential. The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).
  • Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
  • Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone else in your faith community.

Helping a friend or loved one:

People with depression may not recognize or admit that they're depressed. They may not be aware of signs and symptoms of depression. If you suspect that a friend or loved one has postpartum depression or is developing postpartum psychosis, help them seek medical attention immediately. Don't wait and hope for improvement.

 

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Disclaimer

The podcast is for informational purposes only and is not designed to replace the physician’s medical assessment and judgment. Information presented is not intended as medical advice. Please contact a healthcare professional medical assistance with specific questions pertaining to your own health if needed.