The morning sickness, the weight gain, and the hours of labor are all finally over - and you're now the proud mother of a beautiful baby...

 The morning sickness, the weight gain, and the hours of labor are all finally over - and you're now the proud mother of a beautiful baby. Friends and family have been surrounding you, offering their heartfelt congratulations and expressing their joy at the sight of your new little bundle. So how can it be that you're feeling so unhappy and overwhelmed?
Feeling depressed after giving birth is not uncommon. In fact, about one in 10 women experience an often undiagnosed condition called postpartum depression (PPD) after childbirth.

What Is PPD?

There are three forms of depression that can occur after giving birth: the "baby blues," PPD, and postpartum psychosis.

Many new mothers experience the baby blues, which are characterized by:

*mild sadness
*tearfulness
*anxiety
*irritability, often for no clear reason
*fluctuating moods
*increased sensitivity
*fatigue

The baby blues typically peak 3 to 5 days after delivery and can last a few hours or days; usually, however, they resolve within about 10 days after childbirth. Although for most women the blues are short-lived, some researchers believe that women who experience these symptoms have an increased risk for PPD, a more severe form of depression later in the postpartum period. One study found that of women who were diagnosed with PPD 6 weeks after delivery, two thirds had the baby blues.

PPD refers to a major depressive episode that occurs usually about 4 weeks after delivery. PPD isn't a special kind of depression; the only aspect that makes PPD a "unique" depression is that it occurs around the time of childbirth. How long it lasts is different for every woman - some women feel better in a few weeks, whereas others may feel depressed for months. Most women with PPD have symptoms for more than 6 months, and if untreated, 25% of patients are still depressed a year later. Women who have a history of depression may have PPD even longer.

New fathers also may experience PPD, although it's more common in stepfathers. Fathers are more likely to experience PPD if they are:

*with a partner who's depressed
*ending their relationship with the mother
*unemployed
*poorly educated
*socially isolated
*under severe stress

in a physically aggressive relationship with the new mother
PPD should also be differentiated from postpartum psychosis, the most severe form of postnatal depression, which affects about 0.1% to 0.2% of women. Although it's rare, this condition is extremely serious, disabling, and often requires hospitalization. Women with postpartum psychosis have delusions and hallucinations that often focus on hurting themselves or their babies. They need immediate medical care.

 

 

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