What is Postpartum Depression?

Posted on December 27, 2007 in Latest News

Postpartum depression is a serious illness that can occur in the first few months after childbirth. It also can happen after miscarriage and stillbirth.

Postpartum depression can make you feel very sad, hopeless, and worthless. You may have trouble caring for and bonding with your baby.

Postpartum depression is not the “baby blues,” which many women have in the first couple of weeks after childbirth. With the blues, you may have trouble sleeping and feel moody, teary, and overwhelmed. You may have these feelings along with being happy about your baby. But the “baby blues” usually go away within a couple of weeks. The symptoms of postpartum depression can last for months.

Causes

Hormone imbalance is thought to play a role. Levels of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol fall dramatically within 48 hours after delivery.

Other known risk factors are:

Mental illness before pregnancy
Mental illness, including postpartum depression, in the family
Postpartum mental disorder after an earlier pregnancy
Conflict in the marriage, loss of employment, or poor social support from friends and family
Pregnancy loss such as miscarriage or stillbirth

Symptoms

Symptoms usually appear any time from 24 hours to a few months after delivery and include the following:

Sad mood, frequent crying
Lack of pleasure or interest in activities that once gave pleasure
Sleep disturbance
Weight loss
Loss of energy
Agitation or anxiety
Thoughts of death or suicide
Feelings of rejection

When to seek medical help

When you feel you are unable to cope with the daily activities in your life, including caring for your newborn or your other children
When you have strong feelings of depression or anger 1-2 months after childbirth.

What is Postpartum Depression?

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