Kigali — When a woman is expecting a baby it is supposed to be a blissful and delightful experience, but for many the magic they feel at bringing a little one into the world, quickly turns into a nightmare as they struggle to cope with the changes that come along with motherhood.

Gynecologist Patrick Mulindwa: post-partum depression is caused by hormonal change. (file photo)

Eve was delighted when her doctor confirmed that she was pregnant, because she had always loved kids. But the excitement quickly faded after the delivery.

"I was happy to be a mother but nothing had prepared me for what would follow my delivery," Eve explains. "At first I wanted to be completely alone, I didn't want even my husband near me. I felt very different from the person I was before, I cried a lot and felt helpless with all the baby's needs plus sleepless nights. What made matters worse, my husband was transferred to another workplace, leaving me alone. After three days, I was admitted to hospital."

Eve was suffering from postpartum depression (PPD) - also called postnatal depression -- an unpredictable condition which occurs between 6 to 12 months of delivery, even though the signs may already start to show in late pregnancy. According to Dr. Patrick Mulindwa, a gynecologist at CHUCK, numerous women suffer from PPD without realizing it, because the condition is still largely unknown in the country.

Mulindwa explains a woman is likely to suffer postpartum depression when she doesn't get enough social support from her husband or her family during pregnancy. This makes her feel isolated in time of need and causes her to worry a lot.

"Most of the PPD sufferers tend to become paranoid, always scared that something bad will happen to them or the baby," he says.

According to the gynecologist, PPD is linked to the change in a woman's hormones during pregnancy and after delivery. "After giving birth, hormones tend to go down, causing stress in the woman's nerve system which explains the weird feeling and depression," he explains.

Moreover, the condition is hereditary - if the mother experienced it, then it's very likely that the daughter will also go through postpartum depression.

Dr. Mulindwa further points out that PPD is also very likely in case of unwanted pregnancy, especially in adolescents, since a young girl is often not ready to take on motherhood, and faces hostility from society.

As for treatment, the doctor explains it is highly important to be able to spot the signs of PPD, before the situation is out of hand. Affected women tend to get cross easily and have a temper -- they will quarrel for no reason or suddenly bust into tears. Besides, PPD can also result in lack of sleep, with the woman sometimes even spending 24 hours without sleep.

The best prevention is to give as much physical and emotional support to the pregnant woman as possible, because according to medical research women want to feel secure, wanted and cared for at that time. However, if care and support fail to help, a visit to a doctor is the immediate course as PPD can lead to severe mental dysfunction if it is not treated.