Postpartum Depression and Sleep: Important News

on July 15, 2009 at 6:56 AM

postpartum depression causes help new baby no sleep

After I had my baby I didn't sleep at all. I was breastfeeding her every two hours round the clock, and each feeding took an hour so there was only an hour in between. I couldn't sleep then because I was anticipating her next cry.

Two months later, I seriously thought I was losing my mind. But then my sister made me go into my room to rest and she didn't wake me when the baby cried. I finally got some sleep and I almost felt like a normal person again.

I was amazed at how a lack of sleep had pushed me thisclose to the edge. So I wasn't surprised to hear the results of a study published in the latest issue of the journal Sleep: Poor sleep after childbirth appears to increase the risk of postpartum depression.

"Postpartum women sleep less during the early weeks following delivery than during pregnancy and other periods of reproductive age," Dr. Signe Karen Dorheim, of Stavanger University Hospital, and colleagues write in their report. "At the same time, these women have an increased risk of depression."

The researchers studied 2,830 women who said that they slept an average of 6 1/2 hours per night. After adjusting the data for other significant depression risk factors (things like previous sleep problems or being a first-time mom), poor sleep was still associated with depression.

Dr. Dorheim said that some women who suffer from postpartum depression could be helped by treating their sleep problems.

She also says that if a mom is depressed or complains being really tired during daytime hours, their significant other should help out with the baby during the night, to give her a night of "recovery" sleep.

Did you suffer from postpartum depression? Do you think lack of sleep could have been a factor?

About the author Suzanne Murray

is the Parenting & Political editor at The Stir/Moms Matter 2012.

Filed Under: emotional health, in the news, mental health

Comments (4)

Nonmember comment from LillianB

on Jul 15, 2009 at 8:43 AM

So many women suffer from postpartum depression and don't actually realize it. A friend of mine went through it with each of her three children. She never sought professional help, which is a big no, no. She just sort of let it fade away. New moms really need a strong support system during those first few weeks - mother, grandmother, sister, brother, anyone and everyone can help. If you know someone that will be having a baby soon, think about how you can contribute to making her life easier. Maybe you can prepare a few meals for her that can be put away in the refrigerator for those first few days back home. If she has other kids, you can offer to take them off of her hands for a few hours, or a few days even, until she adjusts. You can even offer to just sit with the baby while mommy gets in some extra hours of sleep. There are so many things that can be done to help out - no gesture is too small.

Report this comment

mmmommy0207

on Jul 15, 2009 at 12:10 PM

I had it with my first, but I was 17, and terrified I was going to screw this whole "being a mom" thing. With my second, I was fine, I just got a little stir crazy from being in the house too much and attempting to clean my house instead of sleeping. (Hey, that happens to the best of us!) This time, my SIL and I are gonna hang out more, and if I need rest, she said she would take my toddler every day for the first week so I have a chance to recover. Talk about a BFF!

athenax3

on Jul 18, 2009 at 8:33 AM

I had it with my third child for the first time- terribly- but was too afraid to tell anyone and unsure of whether or not it was ppd or just life (I was having a LOT of personal problems at the time that were deeply affecting my life and my marriage) I definitely lacked sleep- to the point of absolute exhaustion and I'm sure it absolutely did play a role in my emotional and mental turmoil. I don't think I'm prone to it naturally, I think in that specific case there were a lot of contributing factors that came together to push me out of my usual resilient state of mind.

djstoreroom

on Jul 18, 2009 at 11:55 AM

I was like that!! My kid breastfed for 45mins, every 2 hours for the first 3 months!! At night, I can only try to sleep during those 1 hour slots.. Being a light sleeper, I woke up once she started crying..

Eventually, I put her directly on my bed, turn on my side, and bf her while I napped... I can do that because I always wake up whenever I turn, so there is no chance of me turning on her when I sleep.. Also, she wouldnt let me turn anywhere when she is latched on!! Sometimes, I may have even nursed her for 2 hours at night without realising it...

The lack of sleep really made me depressed, but most times it doesnt show as my kid kept me smiling with her smiles and antics..