Post natal depression: Sufferers may develop ill-feeling towards their children

When Ladi gave birth to a baby girl,  she was filled with joy as she celebrated with other family members.  However, about a week after delivery, according to Ladi’s cousin who prefers to be simply called Blessing,  Ladi’s husband noticed  she was always sad and withdrawn from the baby.  The husband and other relatives had […]

When Ladi gave birth to a baby girl,  she was filled with joy as she celebrated with other family members. 

However, about a week after delivery, according to Ladi’s cousin who prefers to be simply called Blessing,  Ladi’s husband noticed  she was always sad and withdrawn from the baby.  The husband and other relatives had to remind Ladi repeatedly to feed or carry the child even while she watched  her crying endlessly. 

“Sometimes we had to put the baby on her laps while she struggled with us. She got angry easily with her husband and the cry of the baby. It was when she became incoherent in her speech and started seeing imaginary people trying to kill the child, that we realised something had gone wrong with her, and took her to  the hospital,” Blessing said.

Some women manifest mental disorder after giving birth, said Dr. Agbir Terkura Michael,  a consultant psychiatrist with the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Makurdi. This, he said, is “probably, due to psychosocial factors associated with childbirth such as the pregnancy not being planned for, and maybe fear of motherhood, among  others.” 

He said it is called postnatal depression and has to do with depression after childbirth. It is a kind of depression that develops between one month and up to one year after the birth of a baby.  The disease affects both men and women but is more common in women.

Postnatal depression can be long-lasting, and affect one’s ability to cope with a new baby.

Dr Michael, who is also an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Head of Department of  Psychiatry at  the Benue State University (BSU), said some sufferers could present illnesses more severe than depression.

He said women who usually come with postnatal issues have features of depression such as sadness, reduced energy, loss of appetite, poor sleep and reduce libido. “Some of them have psychotic symptoms with ill feelings towards the child and at this stage, it is no longer just postnatal depression but psychotic disorder.” 

On treatment, he said patients respond to treatment but if they don’t comply with medication, they could have other episodes.

 “The patient has to come for regular appointments during treatment as follow up for a period. The response to treatment is individualised  and  could be one year and a half  on average. However, it is more common among women having their first childbirth. If it is not treated, it would progress further such that the sufferer may start having ill-feelings towards the child. 

“They will see the child as against them and stop taking care of it on account that the child is a witch. There are instances where such children are killed as a result of the mischievous feelings the mother has towards them. It is good for people to know that these are disorders and could be treated,” Dr Michael said.

The psychiatrist  said families should  note that post natal depression or other  mental illnesses are not caused by spirits or witchcraft.

“They should not think it cannot be treated in the hospital. They should also know that we have two centres for treatment in Benue State, the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH) and Federal Medical Centre (FMC). 

“The illness also has medically verifiable causes and responds to treatment,” he advised.