What is Postpartum Depression?

The period of time following labor is often portrayed as a season of joy and wonder for new mothers. After the long discomfort of pregnancy and the painful intensity of delivery, mom gets to hold her baby in her arms and hear his crying and cooing and see his face without the aid of an ultrasound machine. Everything has been building up to this and it’s considered a sort of payoff moment, with all the challenges and frustrations finally culminating in this beautiful meeting. 

This is the common picture of postpartum, but it is not reflective of many women’s experience. 

An immediate sense of bonding with your child is by no means a guarantee. Between 60% and 80% of new mothers experience “baby blues”, while about 15% of new mothers in the United States experience a more serious and long-lasting mood disorder known as postpartum depression. In defining postpartum depression, it is important to clarify what the baby blues are to emphasize that there is an important difference between the two.

The baby blues are common among the majority of new mothers. The baby blues are characterized by anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and crying, sometimes for no apparent reason. This tends to last no longer than ten days after delivery.

Postpartum depression sometimes gets confused with the postpartum blues and while there may initially be some similarities, the symptoms of postpartum depression are more severe and do not eventually go away on their own; they get worse over time and require treatment. Mothers with postpartum depression may experience feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, sadness, and restlessness, just to name a few. Postpartum depression can present differently from individual to individual. For example, some mothers become overly anxious and worried about their new child while other mothers show little to no interest in their baby. 

Postpartum depression is a multi-faceted and complicated issue and, like most mental/mood disorders, is surrounded by stigma. It is important to encourage communication and education on postpartum depression to support the mothers, babies, and families whom it affects.