Postpartum Depression

One of the reasons that weakens, or even prevents, the ability to attune to the baby, and that makes a woman a «not good enough mother», is postpartum depression, defined as «the thief that steals motherhood».

Postpartum depression can show up in a masked form, through physical symptoms such as excessive fatigue, neurovegetative or feeding-related disturbances, and a sharp drop in libido; or through psychological symptoms that differ from those of the baby blues in how persistent they are and how late they appear, sometimes even several months (12–18) after birth: low mood, sadness, an urge to cry, feelings of failure and inadequacy toward her role as a mother, disinterest in herself and in activities she used to enjoy, difficulty making decisions or taking on everyday responsibilities, avoidance of social contact, excessive anxiety about the child.

Postpartum depression is sometimes first noticed by pediatricians. Indeed, behind a wide range of symptoms in the baby that can't be attributed to any illness (low muscle tone, digestive, respiratory, or skin problems, trouble falling asleep, prolonged crying spells, colic, growth delays) lie the difficulties certain mothers are experiencing in their relationship with the baby.

It's the mothers, not the baby, who need help, but the sense of non-separation and confusion they experience with their child leads them to attribute to him the distress they keep hiding from themselves and don't want to become aware of.

To overcome it, it's instead necessary to recognize it and face it without fear.

It's possible to come out of postpartum depression by letting go of the unfounded hope that certain problems will resolve on their own with time.