Postpartum Depression

It's estimated that over 900 women in NB suffer from postpartum depression. The true number is unknown because it is not mandatory, or regular procedure to evaluate women, or to hand out literature on the symptoms of the condition either immediately, or weeks after the birth of a child.

Postpartum depression is believed to be triggered by biological changes and hormone fluctuations and imbalances following childbirth that go far beyond feeling down. With symptoms including anxiety, exhaustion, confusion, guilt, feelings of failure, and fear of harming one's self or one's child, it's not surprising why more women don't say anything about it, and seek help.

When questioned on the topic of evaluation, one nurse at the DECH said that when women come forward to comment on feeling blue, or are known to have a past with postpartum depression, they then go through an evaluation, followed by treatment, but most women never admit to, or seek help for this problem for fear of being judged, or singled out.

Candace Phillips, a 22 year old Fredericton woman who suffered from postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter almost a year ago, says she was asked a few questions regarding her emotional stature by her doctor at separate instances, but she told him everything was fine, and he accepted her response. Her boyfriend also noticed she was acting differently but she says he didn't understand what was going on. He, however was never questioned by her doctor.

This is very common in women suffering from postpartum depression, because they fear being judged, or feel that this is private information that if brought out in the open will be looked down on, or result in their children being taken away. Many of the moms I asked said that they are unaware of what treatment is available for those who do ask for it.

Many Fredericton women say they would have rather filled out a quiz on paper than be asked questions by their doctors. Candace admits she would have felt much more comfortable and open for admitting and discussing the issue had she been in a group of other moms, with doctors and nurses she did not know, rather than her habitual physician.

UNB Fredericton is now offering a program for sufferers of postpartum depression who seek help. The program matches new moms, with existing moms who have experienced the condition in the past.

One volunteer mentor Anne Elgee who battled postpartum depression 16 years ago, told CBC that following the birth of her daughter she wishes she had had someone to talk to when she was a new mother going through this awful time.

Elgee, like many other moms, says she kept her postpartum depression a secret because she too felt no one would understand.

It's suspected that that's why only 5 women have signed up for the help being offered at UNB. It could also be that many new moms and their partners are not educated enough on the topic, and don't properly recognize the symptoms simply passing it off as over exhaustion.

NB Health needs to ensure that mothers are given proper information on symptoms, treatment available, and who they can talk to should they be experiencing this form of depression. A new assessment system also needs to put in place that will either encourage women to answer questions honestly, or unknowingly give honest indicating information. If possible, spouses, or other immediate family should also be questioned. Otherwise women will keep suffering in silence, and new programs put in place will continue to be yet another resource unused.