How Can Adoptive Mothers get Postpartum Depression?

Question

I heard it here in an answer that adoptive mothers can get postpartum depression - how??!!! is that like a phantom pregnancy or something?

Answer 1

They can't.

They can certainly experience stress, disappointment, fear of having their new kid taken back, and any number of other emotional hurdles natural mothers don't necessarily deal with, but post-partum depression?  Not.  PPD is defined as being connected to physically having given birth, which is what "partuition" means.

Answer 2

Post-partum depression: no, they can't get it. By DEFINITION, they cannot get it.

Post-adoption depression: yes.

Answer 3

Well, sort of.  According to some web sites.  But it's not technically postpartum depression.  It's called Post Adoption Depression Syndrome, or PADS.  

When I first stumbled across this term, I thought it referred to  the ADOPTEE'S experience after being placed in a new environment.  And I thought, "Finally, someone recognizes that adoption can have an impact on adoptees, too."  

Instead, I found PADS is about adoptive mothers' post adoption 'let down'.  "...which is not yet a distinct illness recognized by the American Psychiatric Association.  

Psychologists often link new mother's depression to the sudden overwhelming demands of an infant and new financial responsibility, as well her loss of professional identity, social networks, and personal freedom. Sometimes depression is simply about not getting enough sleep or time to oneself."

It makes sense that some of the same non-hormonal causes of PPD might also affect new adoptive moms.  The lack of sleep, the overwhelming responsibility, the (temporary) loss of regular contact with friends, etc.

However, I wonder.  Could one cause of PADS be delayed (or supplanted) grief?  When infertility plays a part in the decision to adopt, infertile parents may not take the time to fully grieve their "loss".  Instead, they run headlong into the arduous process of adoption expecting that once they get a baby, their only emotion will be joy.  Yet their grief is still there lingering in the background, buried, overlooked, denied.

Below are some web sites that explain PADS. Or google Post Adoption Depression Syndrome.

Answer 4

Adoptive moms can experience the sudden reality of taking care of a newborn baby just the same as a biological mother.  I wouldn't call it postpartum depression though.

Answer 5

I think what adoptive parents can get is similar to PPD, but since they didn't actually deliver a baby, the hormones are not running amuck.  With that said, adoptive parents face the same challenges as bioligical parents (sleep deprivation, financial changes, identity crisis if you are a career woman turned stay at home mom, etc.),  but they have a plethora of additional stresses they take on as well.  Things like, will the birthmom change her mind, will the social worker like us, the paperwork, and did I mention the paperwork?! :)

So while I agree that adoptive parents can't have true PPD, emotions are running high and that can cause you to exhibit feelings of depression.

Answer 6

Because suddenly, all the attention she was receiving before getting the baby is gone, and is then given to the new child in her life.

Answer 7

That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

Post-partum means after you give birth.

Depression is depression.  Pretending it's because you gave birth when you didn't is treading into bizarro land.

Answer 8

We can't

Answer 9

Adoptive mothers experience other types of stress, often termed "post-adoptive stress disorder" but postpartum depression?  No.

Answer 10

I believe that came from my answer to the breastfeeding question:

"Breastfeeding will help your bond to form with your new child, and will help fight postpartum depression. While adoptive mothers don't have the wildly fluctuating hormones that most new mothers have, they are only slightly less susceptible to depression after baby comes home, and the prolactin released by breastfeeding will help combat this."

I didn't mean to imply that adoptive moms actually have Postpartum Depression, obviously we can't.  However, adoptive moms are almost as susceptible to depression after baby comes home  as a new mom who has just given birth, and nursing the baby WILL help combat this depression.

Answer 11

It is called post-adoption depression and it is very common - most new mothers, no matter how they become mothers have some form of the blues.  There aren't the pregnancy hormones, but there is still the sleep deprivation, major life adjustments.  Plus, people are used to mothers who have just given birth needing help.  People bring food, help with errands and watching other children, etc.  Often times people forget that adoptive families who have a new member join their families can use this support, too.  Adoptive mothers often feel unable to discuss the stresses of parenthood because they are afraid of the attitude of "Well, this is what you wanted, what you've been waiting for."  Yes, they have gotten what they want and what they've been waiting for, just as any new family feels joy at the arrival of a new child.  But they still need support and should be allowed to express stress - motherhood is hard!

Answer 12

I"m with Robin D and her answer. No, they can't get postpartum, but they may be suffering from stress of having a new baby or child in the house. Just like a mother who gives birth, it takes time to get a routine down, knowing what your baby wants. So that can be a stressful situation. I don't think adoptive mothers are pretending or anything. They are reacting to the situation.

Answer 13

Its stressful taking care of a new baby!

Answer 14

Oh an area I am somewhat of an expert on.

I do not term it PPD when depression occurs after an adoption. PPD is from a hormonal imbalance following pregnancy. A pregnancy need not be brought to term for the mother to suffer from PPD. I have had it after all of my pg's. Term pg's resulting in a live birth and terminated pg's. I was lucky enough to have the ability to see when it was out of control and seek out medical intervention. I thank my lucky stars that I educated myself well after my second child. Most likely that self education has saved my life.

When you are looking at depression following an adoption I think it is more likely a combination of stress and sleep deprivation. It may be easier to lump it into the category of PPD or perhaps in some circumstances calling it PPD makes an adopter feel better. Not saying that in a nasty way but most adopters really do want to have that all important maternal bond immediately and in the same way that a woman does after giving birth. I think it is great when women are so into maternal bonding no matter how they came to be a mother. But... having PPD, in all it's awful glory, is something a woman can only aquire after a birth. It is not medically possible to have PPD if you haven't first given birth and moved into the postpartum stage.

Answer 15

No.

But sometimes they get depressed when they realize that finally having a baby in their possession does not extinguish their issues with infertility or suddenly make them feel "whole."  

Some deal with it by wisely using the experience to finally work through their issues.  Others, by becoming "serial adopters," thinking that one more, one more, one more child will fix it.  Still others will actually disrupt the adoption.

Answer 16

They can't - as Postpartum Depression is associated with the hormones that a woman has through pregnancy and after birth.

Adoptive mothers can get depression - and they can put other names to it - but it's not Postpartum Depression.

Answer 17

ha ha... the same way that i am at risk for prostate cancer.