Navigating postpartum depression: A guide for Latino parents

Bringing a baby into the world is usually considered a happy time filled with love, excitement and hopes for the future. Nevertheless, for many parents this period can also bring about feelings of isolation, sadness, anxiety and difficulties in creating a bond with their newborn. 

Postpartum depression, or PPD, is a type of mood disorder that affects individuals after childbirth. It’s more severe and long-lasting than the “baby blues,” which typically subside within a couple of weeks. PPD can occur days or even months after delivery, and its effects can be profound, impacting both the parent and their family. 

“Once you deliver a baby, your hormones drop dramatically, your progesterone and estrogen drop and that can be a jolt for the body. You can be sluggish, have fatigue and then just mentally experience more emotions, be moody [and] more irritated. Also, a lot of sleep deprivation comes with a newborn. Sleep is a game-changer. If you’re not sleeping every day, that lack of sleep is accumulating, and that’s going to exacerbate your sadness,” said Dr Yvette Padilla (Ob/GYN) at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center. 

A study published by theNational Library of Medicine  stated that “research among the U.S.-born and foreign-born Latinas indicates depression prevalence during or after pregnancy ranges from 23% to 51%, while rates among the general population are estimated at 11%.” 

PPD symptoms can vary, but some common signs include persistent sadness, crying spells, irritability or anger, difficulty bonding with the baby, withdrawal from family and friends, changes in appetite or sleep patterns, anxiety, panic attacks and thoughts of harming oneself or the baby. Understanding and recognizing these symptoms is the first step in addressing the condition. 

The challenges for the Latino community

The Latino community faces particular challenges due to their expectations regarding what a “responsible mother” should be. “New moms have an increased risk for postpartum depression because of the added pressure of being a good mom,” family therapist Antonia Rodarte said. “That is especially true in our culture. It is very much embedded that this is the way you’re supposed to parent. You are supposed to handle the household chores, take care of your husband [and] the baby, be able to do all these things to be a good mom and often, when we don’t, we are criticized for being ‘lazy,’ for not being a good parent. There’s a lot of shame and guilt that starts to sit in.” Rodarte is a licensed marriage and family therapist at Kaiser Permanente Kern Medical Center. 

There are several misconceptions about PPD within the Latino community. One common belief is that it’s just stress and will pass on its own. Many think that experiencing PPD means being a bad parent, an idea that is untrue and harmful. Seeking help is sometimes seen as a sign of weakness, deterring parents from getting the support they need. 

“In our culture, it is ingrained that we focus on others and that our goal is to make sure everyone else is okay. However, with moms, this is an issue because they feel guilty when they have to focus on themselves [and] when they have to take a break [to] rest from their daily lives. In our culture, you’re not supposed to do self-care [or] make time for yourself,” said Rodarte. 

Finding the right treatment

Treatment for postpartum depression is available and effective. Options include therapy that provides a safe, non-judgmental space where patients can better understand that their feelings are real and normal and that PPD is a common and treatable condition. Therapy can also help identify and address underlying issues contributing to PPD. Many times, past traumas, anxiety or relationship problems can exacerbate the symptoms of postpartum depression. Therapists regularly share healthy techniques and problem-solving skills that enable patients to manage symptoms effectively. Stress reduction methods, such as mindfulness, relaxation exercises and cognitive-behavioral strategies, are essential tools to help significantly reduce stress and anxiety levels. These skills help in the short term and equip parents with tools to manage future stressors. 

“It really feels like this dark cloud comes over you, and you’re just overwhelmed,” shared Isis Avalos, a dance teacher in Los Angeles who experienced PPD after the birth of her first child. “You just want to get away from it, and then the thought that comes across your mind is like, I just want to make this feeling stop. Normalizing that these thoughts are real and [that] just because I’ve had these thoughts through my postpartum depression doesn’t make me a bad mother, it doesn’t make me less of a mother and it doesn’t stop me from loving my child immensely the way that I do I, it just doesn’t change any of that.”  

Medication can help manage the symptoms. However, consulting a healthcare provider is crucial to finding the right drug and dosage. Many patients struggle with the decision to take medication while breastfeeding, worrying that it may be passed down to their babies and affect their well-being. 

Dr Padilla is confident about some safe medication options for breastfeeding patients. “There’s a lot of data out there and ongoing data, long term we don’t think there’s a lot of effects on babies, so we feel that it’s rather safe,” she explained. “We want the mom to be healthy and happy and functioning well so they can be able to take care of themselves and [the] baby with very little transmission in the breast milk. We do offer a lot of reassurance to those moms that we think need medication. Certainly, we start with therapy, but if that’s not enough, continuing to breastfeed your baby while taking SSRIs [serotonin inhibitors] is okay. We consider it safe.”   

Postpartum depression can severely affect a parent’s well-being, leading to long-term mental health issues if left untreated. It can strain relationships with partners, other children and even extended family, making the already challenging task of caring for a newborn feel impossible. 

“I felt like I didn’t know myself anymore. I felt like I was just living to keep this baby alive, which is, you know, a very primal, real experience. And yet, I felt like, who am I now? I couldn’t recognize myself anymore in the mirror. I felt a huge identity shift. I was trying to figure out who I was as my own person. I felt so lost and so alone,” said Avalos. 

PPD is a very debilitating experience. Overcoming societal stigma and misinformation is essential in addressing this condition. “It’s important for us to have a sense of self. When we become moms, we lose our identity. We lose ourselves. We are now a parent to somebody, so our focus is on our baby, our family, and making sure that the baby is well taken care of. Oftentimes, we neglect our own emotional needs, and that’s when the depression will start to creep in. When we start neglecting our personal needs, this becomes an issue and allows for depression to set in,” said Rodarte. 

The undeniable presence of fear 

Many parents prefer to keep their suffering in silence for fear of what could happen if they share their thoughts and feelings. “Sometimes women don’t seek help because they worry. They have a fear [of being] institutionalized in a hospital. They fear that they’re going to be taken away from the baby or taken away from the family because they’re crazy. This isn’t the case,” stated Rodarte. “The key is to recognize the symptoms and to get help early on so that it doesn’t progress into something worse. Depression has degrees, mild, moderate and severe. We always want to get treatment when it’s mild because we don’t want it to progress.” 

Family support plays a vital role for parents facing PPD. Still, cultural expectations are sometimes a burden that can increase the challenges. “Comments about weight gain after postpartum or the pressure that you need to look a certain way or the same after just having a baby. That one got to me,” said Avalos. “It was another layer that added to my depression. Because growing up as a Latina in a Mexican American household, there was always this pressure, and I had to have a serious conversation with my family. I said, ‘I don’t want you to make any more comments about my body.’ I gave birth to a human being, and my body went through a lot and now I should be expected to look like nothing happened within three months of birthing a baby. I think expectations of your body is definitely one thing that got to me.”  

There are many free resources available for parents experiencing PPD, like those provided byPostpartum Support International (PSI), which offers a call or text helpline in English and Spanish using the number 1.800.944.4773 or their Connect by PSI app where users can access services like a directory of providers, online support groups and educational materials.  They also provideservices dedicated to queer and trans parents.The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 1-833-852-6262.