Postpartum Depression – Symptoms and Causes

Understanding New Parent Emotions

After having a baby, many people feel strong emotions. These can range from happiness to worry.

Some parents also feel sad or down. Most new mothers have “baby blues” after birth. This includes mood changes, crying, worry, and sleep problems.

Baby blues usually start 2-3 days after delivery and last up to two weeks. For some mothers, deeper depression develops. This is called postpartum depression.

It may begin during pregnancy and continue after childbirth. In rare cases, a serious condition called postpartum psychosis can occur.

Important facts about postpartum depression:

• It is not a sign of weakness
• It doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent
• It’s a medical complication from childbirth

Getting help quickly for postpartum depression is important. Early treatment helps manage symptoms and improves bonding with your baby. If you notice these feelings, talk to a healthcare provider soon.

Symptoms of Depression After Childbirth

Signs of Baby Blues

After giving birth, you might feel emotional changes that last only a few days or up to two weeks. These include:

• Mood changes
• Feeling worried
• Feeling sad
• Being easily annoyed
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Tearfulness
• Trouble focusing
• Changes in hunger
• Sleep difficulties

Depression After Childbirth

This condition can appear more serious than baby blues. The feelings are stronger and last longer. They may make it hard to take care of your baby and do daily tasks.

These symptoms often start in the first few weeks after birth but can begin during pregnancy or even up to a year later.

Common signs include:

• Feeling down or having big mood swings
• Crying often
• Trouble connecting with your baby
• Pulling away from people you care about
• Eating too little or too much
• Not sleeping well or sleeping too much
• Feeling very tired
• Not enjoying things you used to like
• Feeling easily upset or angry
• Worrying you’re not a good parent
• Feeling hopeless
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Having trouble thinking clearly
• Feeling restless
• Severe worry and panic
• Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby
• Thinking about death

Without treatment, these feelings may continue for months or years.

Severe Mental Health Crisis After Birth

This rare but serious condition usually develops within a week of giving birth. Warning signs include:

• Feeling confused
• Having constant thoughts about your baby
• Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
• Sleep problems
• Unusual energy and agitation
• Feeling suspicious of others
• Attempts to hurt yourself or your baby

This condition requires immediate medical help as it can be life-threatening.

Depression in Partners

Research shows that new fathers and partners can also experience depression after a baby arrives. They may feel:

• Sad
• Tired
• Overwhelmed
• Anxious
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits

Young partners, those with depression history, relationship problems, or money concerns face higher risks. This condition can harm relationships and child development just like maternal depression.

When to Call a Doctor

You might feel hesitant to admit feeling depressed after birth. However, contact your doctor if you notice any symptoms of baby blues or depression.

Get immediate help for any signs of severe mental health crisis.

Call your healthcare provider right away if your symptoms:

• Don’t improve after two weeks
• Get worse
• Make baby care difficult
• Interfere with daily activities
• Include thoughts of harm

Help for Harmful Thoughts

If you think about harming yourself or your baby:

1. Immediately ask your partner or family to help with baby care
2. Call 911 or your local emergency number
3. Contact your doctor
4. Call a mental health professional
5. Contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 (available 24/7)
6. Talk to a trusted friend or family member
7. Reach out to a religious or spiritual leader

Supporting Someone With Postpartum Depression

People experiencing depression might not recognize their symptoms. If you think someone has depression after childbirth:

• Help them get medical care right away
• Don’t wait to see if they improve on their own
• Offer to make appointments or drive them to the doctor
• Listen without judgment
• Help with baby care and household tasks
• Remind them that treatment works and they aren’t alone

Causes

Postpartum depression stems from several factors working together rather than a single cause. Research points to three main contributors:

Genetic Factors

• Family history of postpartum depression increases risk
• Major depression in relatives is particularly significant

Hormonal Changes

After giving birth, women experience dramatic shifts in their body chemistry:

• Estrogen and progesterone levels drop sharply
• Thyroid hormone production may decrease significantly
• These changes can trigger feelings of fatigue and depression

Emotional Challenges

New mothers face several emotional hurdles that can contribute to depression:

• Sleep deprivation affects ability to handle stress
• Anxiety about newborn care responsibilities
• Concerns about physical appearance
• Struggles with new identity as a mother
• Feeling loss of control over daily life

These factors don’t occur in isolation. A combination of genetic predisposition, physical changes, and emotional pressures often creates the conditions for postpartum depression to develop.

Risk Factors

Postpartum depression can affect any new mother after childbirth, regardless of whether it’s their first baby or not. Several factors may increase the risk:

Personal and Family History

• Previous depression episodes (during pregnancy or other times)
• History of bipolar disorder
• Previous postpartum depression
• Family members with depression or mood disorders

Current Life Circumstances

• Recent stressful events (pregnancy complications, illness, job loss)
• Financial difficulties
• Relationship problems with partner
• Limited support system
• Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

Baby-Related Factors

• Caring for a child with health problems or special needs
• Having multiple births (twins, triplets)
• Breastfeeding challenges

Complications

Postpartum depression can cause serious problems if left untreated. These complications affect the mother, her partner, and their child.

For Mothers:

• Depression may last months or become chronic
• Difficulty breastfeeding
• Problems bonding with the baby
• Higher suicide risk
• Greater chance of future depression episodes

When a mother experiences postpartum depression, it affects the entire family unit. The emotional strain spreads to everyone involved in the baby’s care.

For Partners:

• Increased risk of developing depression themselves
• May already face higher depression risk regardless of mother’s condition
• Added stress from supporting both mother and child

For Children:

• More likely to develop emotional and behavioral issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Eating problems
• Excessive crying
• Delayed language development

Prevention

Talking to a healthcare provider about any previous depression, especially postpartum depression, is essential when planning pregnancy or upon learning about it.

During Pregnancy Monitoring:

• Complete depression screening questionnaires
• Discuss symptoms with your healthcare provider
• Consider support groups or counseling for mild symptoms
• Explore medication options when necessary

Providers can track symptoms throughout pregnancy and adjust treatment plans as needed.

After Childbirth:

• Attend early postpartum checkups for depression screening
• Begin recommended treatments promptly
• Consider preventive treatment if you have a history of postpartum depression

For those with previous postpartum depression, healthcare providers might suggest starting talk therapy or medication right after delivery. Most antidepressants can be safely used while breastfeeding.

Being honest about feelings and symptoms helps them provide appropriate care.