Postpartum Depression: Not Just the Baby Blues

The Baby Blues

The baby blues involve relatively mild symptoms that appear 3-4 days after delivery and usually go away within a couple of weeks.

The following are symptoms of the baby blues:

• Mild sadness
• Trouble concentrating
• Loss of appetite
• Irregular sleeping
• ]]>Anxiety]]>
• Mood swings

The baby blues usually do not require medical treatment. But if a woman’s symptoms are more severe or last longer than a couple of weeks, it is possible she is experiencing postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a medical illness that occurs within the first six months to one year after giving birth, although it more commonly begins right after delivery.

Symptoms of postpartum depression include the following:

• Lack of interest or pleasure in life
• Sleep or appetite disturbances
• Decreased energy and motivation
• Increased crying and irritability
• Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt
• Uncontrollable mood swings
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Fear of harming the baby, yourself, or your partner
• Unexplained weight changes
• Fear of being alone
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Inability to concentrate
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Chest pains
• Hyperventilation
• Heart palpitations

If you or someone you know is experiencing multiple ongoing symptoms of postpartum depression or thoughts of suicide make an appointment with a healthcare professional.

Risk Factors

Certain risk factors make it more likely that a woman will have postpartum depression:

• Previous ]]>depression]]>
• History of mental illness or ]]>substance abuse]]>
• Marital difficulties
• Severe ]]>premenstrual syndrome]]> (PMS)
• Young age
• Single marital status
• Stressful life events
• Pregnancy or labor difficulties
• Lack of social support
• Baby’s health problems
• Major life change near childbirth
• Neurotic and introverted personality characteristics

If you have several of the risk factors listed above, talk to your doctor. An analysis of the results of 15 trials on postpartum depression, which included over 7,600 women, found that support by public health nurses or midwives significantly decreased the risk of developing postpartum depression. If you do experience postpartum depression, it can be treated with therapy, support networks, and medications such as antidepressants. Treating postpartum depression early can help prevent it from getting worse.

Postpartum depression is different than postpartum psychosis, which requires immediate medical attention. In postpartum psychosis, a woman experiences delusions and hallucinations, and is at risk of committing child abuse, suicide, or infanticide. Postpartum psychosis is more rare than postpartum depression, occurring in about 1 in 1,000 new mothers.

Decreasing Your Risk of Postpartum Depression

Strategies that may help decrease your chances of developing postpartum depression:

• Avoid major life changes (eg, moving, changing jobs) during pregnancy whenever possible.
• Enlist the support of friends and family, both while you are pregnant and after you have a baby.
• Eat a ]]>well-balanced diet]]> and ]]>get regular exercise]]>.
• Talk to your healthcare provider about feelings you are concerned about.