Postpartum Depression

What is postpartum depression?

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious medical condition that can develop some time in the first few months after childbirth. Without treatment, PPD can be prolonged and disabling. PPD is very common, affecting one in eight women during the first months after childbirth. PPD can also strike after miscarriage and stillbirth.

In rare cases, a woman with postpartum depression also develops psychotic symptoms that endanger herself and others.

What are common symptoms?

Symptoms of postpartum depression include extreme fatigue, loss of pleasure in daily life, sleeplessness (insomnia), sadness, tearfulness, anxiety, hopelessness, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, irritability, appetite change, and poor concentration.

It may be helpful to make a list of postpartum depression symptoms that you can take to your health professional.

Although any women with PPD can have fleeting, frightening thoughts of suicide or harming their babies, women with rare postpartum psychosis experience these thoughts as urges they feel compelled to act on. If you think you can't keep from hurting yourself, your baby, or someone else, see your health professional immediately or call 911 for emergency medical care. Other resources include:

• The national suicide hotline, National Hopeline Network, at 1-800-784-2433.
• The National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-422-4453.

Click here for more information on postpartum depression.