Adoption is typically viewed as a happy event by the new parents. It is often the culmination of years of infertility treatments, interviews, home screenings and other preparatory activities. A long-time goal is finally reached when the baby is placed in its adoptive mother's arms and taken to its new home. However, the joy is replaced with the blues in more than half of new adoptive moms.
Definition
Depression in adoptive mothers is known as PADS, or Post-Adoption Depression Syndrome, according to the Adoption Issues education website. This syndrome is similar to post-partum depression in birth mothers, but it occurs in moms who receive their baby through adoption rather than physically giving birth. Anne Coleman, of Adoption and Beyond Counseling Services, explains that PADS can be distinguished from a normal case of the blues because it lasts for more than three weeks and interferes with the sufferer's life and daily activities.
Prevalence
PADS is a common occurrence in new adoptive moms, according to Harriet McCarthy, a manager at the Eastern European Adoption Coalition Parent Education and Preparedness. She conducted a survey of 165 women who adopted infants from Eastern Europe and found that 65 percent of them reported depression. Adoption Issues explains that women who adopt special-needs children or babies from overseas are more prone to PADS.
Causes
Post-partum depression is common in women who give birth. Adoption Issues explains that doctors often blame it on hormonal changes, but there are other factors. For example, major life changes and sleepless nights spent caring for a baby can exhaust a new mother and make her more prone to depression. Adoptive mothers do not physically give birth, but they still have to provide constant care for a dependent baby. Adoption Issues states that many women who adopt are older and well-established in their careers, so they may not be fully prepared for the upheaval caused by parenthood. June Bond, a certified adoption investigator, says that some women feel badly for the biological mother, which can add to the depression.
Self-Help
Bond advises adoptive moms who are struggling with depression to build a support system of similar families. This can include online forums and chat rooms for adoptive moms or local groups. The depression may be reduced by venting to other mothers who understand because they are having similar feelings. Bond also recommends parenting classes to help build general skills. She explains that it can take a while for a mother to feel comfortable in her new role.
Professional Help
Adoption Issues advises getting professional help if self-help measures don't reduce the depression within several months. This is especially critical if it is interfering with the woman's everyday life and ability to parent her child. A professional counselor who has experience in dealing with adoptive families can be a valuable resource. Severe PADS may require anti-depressant medication prescribed by a physician.
