Depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration persist for an extended time to a degree that they interfere with everyday life. When this condition occurs during pregnancy or within a year of delivery it is called perinatal depression. Learn more about perinatal depression in pregnancy here.
Intense sadness or worries that last beyond two weeks postpartum may be a sign of postpartum depression or of postpartum anxiety. Women with postpartum depression and anxiety can also experience sleep changes (frequently insomnia) and appetite changes (often appetite loss). This helps distinguish it from the baby blues.
Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the term for depression that occurs within a year of childbirth. Clinical depression is distinct from normal feelings of sadness or fatigue, because it has a greater impact on a woman’s wellbeing and functioning. These negative feelings can be particularly challenging. A woman is often expected to be feeling intense joy about her new baby, which she may not be experiencing.
Postpartum Anxiety (PPA) refers to intense worrying, fearful thoughts, or panic in the postpartum period, often associated with worries about the new baby. Some amount of worry regarding a new baby is normal. Postpartum anxiety entails overwhelming, constant worry that may be irrational, and negatively impacts the mother’s joy in her new baby. It may involve physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, nausea, or difficulty sleeping.
A woman can experience both postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression. Though they are fairly common, they are also among the most treatable forms of mental illness, with therapy or medication.
It is important for a woman to seek treatment, both for her own wellbeing and that of her infant. Treatment can include counseling, support groups and/or medication. Many of the medications used to treat PPD or PPA are safe to take while breastfeeding. With professional help, the condition typically resolves over time, though duration is variable. In general, earlier intervention can minimize the duration of postpartum depression and associated suffering.
Postpartum psychosis is a rare form of postpartum mental illness that can manifest with paranoia or hallucinations. This can be life-threatening to both mother and baby. It is critical for a woman experiencing paranoia or hallucinations postpartum to get help immediately. Crisis hotlines are available to help navigate getting help. (See below, under “Resources”.)
