Postpartum Mood Disorder

Up to 15% of women will experience depression after pregnancy ("Postpartum Depression", 2018). Postpartum depression, or depression after giving birth, is a common occurrence among new mothers. Both hormonal changes as well as the stress of raising a new baby, along with changes in the body can greatly affect one’s mood.

In the days immediately following giving birth, many women experience the ‘baby blues’. This ‘baby blues’ is a common condition related to hormonal changes and general stress that is felt when adjusting to a new baby. It does not require treatment and typically goes away within a few days. However, postpartum depression is longer lasting. This depression does not only affect the mother, but can also affect her relationship with her baby, her partner, and with other members of her family. PPMD typically starts within the first month after childbirth and can last for weeks and even months. 

Symptoms of postpartum mood disorder include: 

• Low mood, feelings of sadness
• Severe mood swings
• Social withdrawal
• Trouble bonding with your baby
• Appetite changes
• Feeling helpless and hopeless
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, including loss of interest in the baby 
• Feeling inadequate or worthless
• Sleep disturbance and fatigue 
• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby
• Thoughts of suicide

Signs of postpartum mood disorder can often be missed in new mothers as changes in sleeping patterns, interests, changes in energy levels, mood and body weight are all typical parts of new motherhood. Additionally, new mothers may not want to acknowledge these symptoms because of societal pressure or fear of being seen as a “bad mother”. However, PPMD has nothing to do with the love you have for your child or your ability to parent, but rather is a psychological condition that requires treatment.