What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression is one of the most underdiagnosed and most stigmatized diagnoses in mental health. It affects roughly 1 in every 7 mothers, and a smaller but still significant share of fathers.

How it differs from the baby blues: baby blues is a brief period of emotional ups and downs in the first 2 weeks after birth, normal, affecting up to 80% of mothers, and it resolves on its own. Postpartum depression persists beyond 2 weeks, is more intense, and impairs functioning.

Symptoms: persistent sadness, excessive crying, irritability, feeling like a bad mother, an inability to bond with the baby, intense anxiety (especially about the baby's well-being), intrusive thoughts of harming the baby (which horrify the mother and do not indicate real intent), exhaustion beyond what is expected, and withdrawal from friends and family.

Causes: dramatic hormonal shifts after birth, extreme sleep deprivation, prior biological vulnerability, lack of social support, and a history of depression or anxiety.

Treatment: it is effective and urgent to seek out; not treating it affects the baby too (bonding, development). CBT, interpersonal therapy, and antidepressants (some are considered safe while breastfeeding) are all options. A partner and family need to actively support the search for treatment.