What is postpartum depression

Severe premenstrual syndrome PMS. A difficult or very stressful marriage or relationship. Few family members or friends to talk to or depend on. Stressful life events during pregnancy or after childbirth such as severe illness during pregnancy, premature birth, or a difficult delivery.

How is postpartum depression diagnosed? Can postpartum depression be prevented or avoided? Postpartum depression treatment. Living with postpartum depression. Here are some things you can do that other mothers with postpartum depression have found helpful: Find someone to talk to and tell that person about your feelings. Get in touch with people who can help you with childcare, household chores, and errands. This support network will help you find time for yourself so you can rest. Try reading, exercising walking is great for your health and is easy to do , taking a bath, or meditating.

Keep a daily diary. Write down your emotions and feelings. This is a way to let out your thoughts and frustrations. Once you begin to feel better, you can go back and reread your diary.

This will help you see how much better you are. Celebrate small achievements. Even if you can only get one thing done on any given day, remember that this is a step in the right direction. Try not to get angry with yourself when this happens.

Childbirth brings many changes and parenting is challenging. Be honest about how much you can do. Ask other people to help you when you need it. Find a support group in your area. They can put you in touch with people near you who have experience with postpartum depression. Talk with your doctor about how you feel. Questions to ask your doctor.

Will I have to take antidepressants for life? If I take medicine, will I have trouble getting off the medicine when I feel better? Will I have postpartum depression with every pregnancy? Who should I call if I am having thoughts of suicide or of harming my baby? Last Updated: July 21, This article was contributed by: familydoctor. Tags: antidepressants , Anxiety , depression , Pregnant Women , women's health.

Related Articles. Getting treatment for PPD can help you feel better and be able to care for your baby. It can happen to any woman after having a baby. Possible causes include:.

Some things make you more likely than others to have PPD. These are called risk factors. But it may increase your chances. Your health care provider screens checks you for PPD at your postpartum care checkups. Screening means that your provider asks you questions about your risks, feelings mood. The U. Preventive Services Task Force says that certain kinds of counseling also called therapy can prevent perinatal depression including PPD for women at increased risk of depression. Counseling is when you talk about your feelings and concerns with a counselor or therapist.

This person helps you understand your feelings, solve problems and cope with things in your everyday life. Be honest with your provider about your life, your pregnancy and your feelings so your provider can help you find counselors for treatment. He wants to know if your feelings are causing problems in how you care for yourself and your baby. He may ask you to fill out a form called a depression screening questionnaire. Your answers on the form can help him find out if you have PPD.

Your provider may do tests to see if you have other health problems that may lead to PPD. For example, he may check your thyroid hormones.

Low levels of thyroid hormones may lead to PPD. The sooner you see your provider about PPD, the better. You can get started on treatment so you can take good care of yourself and your baby. Treatment can include:. Postpartum psychosis is a rare, severe form of depression. About 1 or 2 in 1, women has postpartum psychosis after giving birth. It usually begins in the first 2 weeks after giving birth. Women who have certain mental health conditions bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder are more likely to have postpartum psychosis than other women.

If you have postpartum psychosis, you need treatment to get better. Call your health care provider right away if you have any of these signs or symptoms:. Additional versions of this article are available in: Arabic , Chinese Simplified , Hindi , and Urdu Translated documents are courtesy of the employees of CooperSurgical Inc. Get expert tips and resources from March of Dimes and CDC to increase your chance of having a healthy, fully-term pregnancy and baby.

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Postpartum depression. E-mail to a friend Please fill in all fields. Please enter a valid e-mail address. Thank you! Your e-mail was sent. Save to my dashboard Sign in or Sign up to save this page. Saving Just a moment, please.

You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard. Download our English and Spanish health action sheets on birth spacing. To download this health action sheet, enter your email in the box below. In This Topic. PPD can make it hard for you to take care of yourself and your baby. If you have signs or symptoms of PPD, talk to your provider about treatment. What is postpartum depression? Is PPD the same as the baby blues?

What are the signs and symptoms of PPD? Signs and symptoms of PPD include: Changes in your feelings: Feeling depressed most of the day every day Feeling shame, guilt or like a failure Feeling panicked or scared a lot of the time Having severe mood swings Changes in your everyday life: Having little interest in things you normally like to do Feeling tired all the time Eating a lot more or a lot less than is normal for you Gaining or losing weight Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much Having trouble concentrating or making decisions Changes in how you think about yourself or your baby: Having trouble bonding with your baby Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby Thinking about suicide killing yourself If you think you have signs or symptoms of PPD, call your health care provider right away.

Can PPD affect your baby? If PPD is untreated: You may skip your postpartum checkups and not follow instructions from your health care provider. They include a persistently low mood that lasts for at least 2 weeks. In this article, learn about effective treatments and self-care strategies for postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression can affect people differently, but below are some common signs and symptoms :. Some people experience postpartum psychosis , a severe mental health problem that needs immediate medical attention. Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, mania, paranoia, and confusion.

Others experience baby blues. This is different from postpartum depression. It affects many new parents and usually disappears after 3—5 days. A healthcare provider can help a person understand the cause of a low mood after childbirth, and they can provide effective treatments and self-care strategies, if necessary.

Postpartum depression can cause people to think about harming their child or themselves, including thoughts of suicide. If anyone has these thoughts, they or someone else should seek immediate help.

Doctors do not know exactly what causes postpartum depression, but it can affect anyone. Genetic factors may play a role, and environmental factors may also contribute. The following may increase the risk of developing postpartum depression:. Some transgender men and other gender-nonconforming people face additional stress during and after pregnancy. This may lead to a higher risk of postpartum depression. One study lists factors contributing to the added stress, including:.

Learn more about how mental health issues affect trans men here. In the United States, around 1 in pregnancies end in stillbirth, after 20 weeks of pregnancy. This may increase the risk of postpartum depression. Experts report that If symptoms of depression last 2 weeks or longer within 1 year of giving birth, a person should receive medical attention. This is also crucial for anyone who is having trouble caring for themselves or their baby.

The doctor will ask questions about symptoms and medical histories. They may also request blood tests to rule out other causes of depression. Treatment for postpartum depression is essential for the well-being of the parent and their newborn.