Do I Have Postpartum Depression?

It’s common for women to experience the “baby blues.”

Feeling stressed, sad, anxious, lonely, tired or sleepy after childbirth is natural. But some women – up to 1 in 7 – experience a much more serious mood disorder called postpartum depression or PPD.  

Unlike the baby blues, PPD doesn’t go away on its own.

It can appear days or even months after delivering a baby and last weeks or months if left untreated. PPD can make it hard for you to get through the day, and affect your ability to take care of your baby, or yourself. Postpartum depression does not discriminate. It can  affect any woman regardless of income, age, race or ethnicity, culture, education, ease of pregnancy or number of children.  

What Are the Symptoms of PPD?

The warning signs are different for everyone but may include:

• A loss of pleasure or interest in things you used to enjoy, including sex
• Eating much more, or much less, than you usually do
• Anxiety, all or most of the time, or panic attacks
• Racing, scary thoughts
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or blaming yourself
• Excessive irritability, anger, agitation, or mood swings
• Sadness, crying uncontrollably for long periods of time
• Fear of not being a good mother
• Fear of being left alone with the baby
• Inability to sleep, sleeping too much, difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Disinterest in the baby, family, and friends
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby  

If these warning signs or symptoms last longer than two weeks, you may need to seek help.  

What Can I Do?

• Don’t face PPD alone
• Seek help from a psychologist licensed mental health provider; or contact your primary health care provider
• Talk openly about your feelings with your partner, other mothers, friends, and relatives
• Join a support group for mothers and if you can’t find one, ask your health care provider for suggestions
• Find a relative or close friend who can help you take care of the baby
• Get as much rest as you can (even if you have to ask for more help with the baby)
• As soon as your doctor or other primary health care provider says it’s OK, take walks, exercise
• Be realistic about what you can do while taking care of a new baby  

Postpartum depression is not your fault — it is a real, but treatable, psychological disorder.

When it comes to PPD, early detection and treatment make all the difference. If you, or someone you know, shows symptoms of depression and anxiety, either during pregnancy or after childbirth, a psychologist or other licensed mental health provider can help. There are effective treatments for PPD, including psychotherapy, often combined with antidepressant medication.