While her friends and family celebrated the joy of new life, new mother Elm was quietly battling the overwhelming challenge of postpartum depression (PPD), made worse by Karachi’s murderous summer heat. .
“I started having high blood pressure. My doctor said it was made worse by stress and I felt heartbroken. I was diagnosed with postpartum gravidarum and postpartum depression,” Elm* said. said. geo.tv Karachi was extremely hot this year.
“Even small household chores seemed like a lot of work, and the anticipation of starting something a week later was incredible. I was worried that the heat and sweat would affect my scars, and I was always on edge.”
Karachi, one of Pakistan’s most densely populated cities, is experiencing rising temperatures, leaving environmentalists and meteorologists increasingly concerned about the city’s climate future. Serious questions have been raised about the future of Karachi’s climate, with temperatures reaching over 50 degrees Celsius and the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) suggesting a shift to “hot” or “very hot” weather throughout the year.
The highest temperature recorded in Karachi was 42 degrees Celsius on June 24, and prolonged power outages added to the misery.
Elm, who gave birth in the sweltering heat of Karachi, said she had been experiencing “severe depression” for the past five months. “After giving birth, I initially felt better, but gradually I started experiencing PPD and it’s still there. I still feel like I can’t cope. Some days I feel better, and other days my condition is too low. .”
Sharing his experience, Erum said he does not have any load shedding issues as he is currently staying at his parents’ house, which has solar panels installed.
However, she said she had no awareness of PPD, let alone understood this intersection of emotional disorders and fever.
“I have only been on PPD for seven weeks and am expected to be fully functional and able to handle all the chores, but I am often unable to do so. That’s what happens,” she said.
Climate change will quadruple PPD
PPD occurs after the baby is born and can last up to a year. People with PPD may experience emotional highs and lows, frequent crying, fatigue, guilt, anxiety, and have difficulty caring for their baby.
Dr. Jai Das, assistant professor (research) at Aga Khan University, is currently researching the correlation between PPD and climate change, and finds that a combination of significant hormonal, physical, social, and environmental changes may cause new mothers to experience this It is said to experience.
“It is estimated that approximately 15% of women experience PPD, 20% PPA (postpartum anxiety disorder), and 4% PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder).Traumas such as climate change and natural disasters “Exposure to traumatic events can further exacerbate this vulnerability and increase the mental health burden of new mothers,” he said. geo.tv.
As sleep deprivation is a common problem for postpartum women, the effects of heat exposure on sleep may further exacerbate women’s vulnerability to mental health problems.
She said the systematic review highlighted that postpartum women are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change on their mental health.
“Environmental stressors, such as heat exposure, are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm birth. A systematic review found that mothers of preterm infants were more likely to experience depression than mothers of term infants. “We found that the risk is high and the risk of depression is high. Especially for mothers of very low birth weight babies, the risk persists throughout the postpartum year,” he added.
Dr. Das further said that research has shown that higher temperatures can negatively impact sleep outcomes. “As sleep deprivation is a common problem for postpartum women, the effects of heat exposure on sleep may further exacerbate women’s vulnerability to mental health problems. A systematic review found that sleep disorders and A strong association with postpartum depression has been highlighted.
Speaking about environmental factors, Dr. Das highlighted that prospective pregnancy cohort studies have demonstrated an association between prenatal exposure to air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and increased risk of PPD. did.
The professor said their research focuses on the effects of climate change, with an emphasis on extreme heat and environmental pollution.
New mother, old threat
Hiba, a new mother who gave birth during Karachi’s heat wave, said she experienced stressful moments while adjusting to life with a newborn.
“The heat made the discomfort even more intense. The high temperatures made caring for the baby even more physically exhausting and affected my energy levels and mood,” she said. geo.tv. “It seems like the intense heat has made me feel more tired and irritable.”
Another young mother, Sarah, said she became lonely after giving birth and spent less time with her husband. “The heat is getting tougher. [my condition]Inflation is so high that no one can afford to buy air conditioners 24/7. ”
I didn’t like talking to anyone. My already disturbed mental state was made worse by the weather and constant solitude.
She said the heat affected her mental health and made her feel “weird” most of the time. “I didn’t like to talk to anyone. My already disturbed mental state was made worse by the weather and constant loneliness,” she said.
Sarah also described how her in-laws interfered in her life after giving birth, “screaming at her and scaring her,” which led her to leave her husband. However, her only support at that time was her family.
“As a mother of a toddler and a toddler, I still can’t muster the courage and others are trying to trick me into it,” she said. geo.tv.
Heat waves and mental health
Dr. Sana Liaquat, Senior Psychologist at Taskeen, explores how Karachi’s heatwave season is impacting the mental health of new mothers in various ways, including hormonal and emotional changes. It became clear that he had difficulty regulating his mood and was even more prone to PPD. .
“Heatwave season can cause physical discomfort, dehydration, extreme fatigue, irritability, and lack of sleep. Due to the care of newborns, newborns are more vulnerable to the effects of heat,” says Reaquat. the doctor said. geo.tv.
She added that the pressure to keep up household chores during this season can increase stress levels and lead to worsening of PPD.
As for the long-term effects, psychologists said they saw feelings of anxiety, helplessness and depression in mothers who were already dealing with the mental strain of PPD.
Dr Liaquat also spoke about economic inequality and how it exacerbates the recession, saying the heat is “unbearable” for new mothers living in areas with poor infrastructure.
“The discomfort caused by high fever can lead to frustration and can exacerbate mental health difficulties during postpartum depression,” she stressed.
research and recognition
When asked how the mental health effects of extreme heat on mothers can be reduced, Dr. Liaquat said healthcare providers should ensure new mothers about the physical and emotional effects of extreme heat waves. He said there is a need to educate the public.
This includes the importance of hydration, a safe environment and recognizing the symptoms of heat illness, she said, and mental health experts explain how this type of stress can lead to anxiety, irritability and mood swings. It added that there was a need to provide information on what causes this, and there was also a need to emphasize how mothers could cope. It allows you to express your feelings before they escalate into more severe postpartum depression.
Encourage collaboration between psychologists, climatologists, and public health experts.
Additionally, she said more research needs to be done, focusing in particular on how climate change affects postpartum depression. “Longitudinal studies that follow mothers from pregnancy to postpartum are needed,” she added.
“Research should not only focus on the traditional drivers of PPD, but also integrate climate-related stressors such as rising temperatures, air pollution, and more frequent natural disasters.
“Screening and assessment tools have room for improvement. We encourage collaboration between psychologists, climatologists and public health experts,” Dr. Liaquat stressed.
power of intervention
A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that an “intervention” reduced the likelihood of developing postpartum anxiety and depression by more than 70%.
This study focused on the mental health of women living in low-resource settings. Results showed that an anxiety intervention among pregnant women living in Pakistan significantly reduced the likelihood that women would develop moderate to severe anxiety, depression, or both in the first six weeks of life. Ta.
“This unique intervention was implemented by non-specialist health care providers with the equivalent of a bachelor’s degree in psychology but no clinical experience. Our results suggest that this may be an effective way to prevent the development of postpartum mental health problems in women living in “low resource settings,” the study states.
As the world continues to grapple with the devastating effects of unprecedented floods, heat waves, severe storms, and natural disasters, new mothers are struggling to understand how the link between PPD and climate-related stressors is conveniently ignored. It highlights the presence of animals.
Pakistan is also bearing the brunt of climate change with huge monsoons, drought-inducing heatwaves and crop losses, requiring health authorities, experts and policy makers to work together to find sustainable solutions. There is.
Mentally healthy mothers raise mentally strong children. For our future generations to surpass past generations in performance, the entire country must take action, starting with acknowledging that PPD is a reality.
Uswah Zahid is a staff member at Geo.tv. She posts to X @uswahzahid
This article is part of Big Picture’s Women’s Health series.
Header and thumbnail illustrations by Geo.tv
