In the first few weeks of caring for a newborn, most new moms feel anxious, sad, frustrated, tired, and overwhelmed. Sometimes known as the “baby blues,” these feelings get better within a few weeks. But for some women, they are very strong or don’t get better. Postpartum depression is when these feelings don’t go away after about 2 weeks or make it hard for a woman to take care of her baby.
It’s not anyone’s fault or a weakness when a woman gets postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is treatable. Treatment helps most women feel like themselves again. Then they can enjoy having a new baby at home.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?
Symptoms of postpartum depression can vary from woman to woman. But common signs include:
- feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed
- feeling worried, scared, or panicked
- blaming yourself unnecessarily
- crying a lot
- feeling moody
- anger
- sleeping too much or too little
- eating too much or too little
- trouble concentrating
- not wanting to be with friends and family
- not feeling attached to the baby
- not wanting to do things that usually are enjoyable
Although it is very rare, some women have very serious symptoms such as:
- thoughts of hurting the baby or themselves
- hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, or feeling paranoid (very worried, suspicious, or mistrustful)
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is caused by a combination of:
- hormonal changes that happen after a baby is born
- changes such as the loss of sleep and increased stress that come with taking care of a newborn baby
