Postpartum Depression-When to Seek Help

About half of all women who have recently given birth experience a heightened state of emotions that are often defined as "baby blues". This state only lasts for a few days to a couple of weeks after delivery. A woman may find herself crying more easily, feeling sad, irritable, and having difficulty sleeping. These emotions do not interfere with a woman's ability to care for her baby.

Postpartum depression occurs in about 10-20% of women, usually identified within a few months of delivery. Women with this condition exhibit signs of depression including trouble sleeping, fatigue, lack of enjoyment in pleasurable activities, problems with appetite, inability to focus or attend, feelings of inadequacy, extraordinary worry about the baby's health or well-being, fears of harming the baby, and/ or suicidal thoughts. Postpartum depression does interfere with a woman's ability to care for her child. This condition may exacerbate to the most serious postpartum psychosis disorder, where a woman will consider killing her baby and herself, to protect her children from abandonment. This condition is rare, and must be treated or it will most likely return long after the birth of this baby or more likely with the birth of other children.

There are not really any specific causes of postpartum depression. Hormone imbalance may play a role, with levels of estrogen and progesterone dropping after delivery. Women who develop depression right after birth may be sensitive to these hormonal changes.

Other risk factors may include mental illness before pregnancy, history of depression in the family, postpartum depression with a previous birth or stress and conflict in the marriage, such as financial stress, lack of support from family and/or friends. Postpartum depression may also occur after miscarriage.

Women who have risk factors for postpartum depression may wish to consider supportive counseling before and during their pregnancy, as well as after the delivery. Postpartum depression may go unrecognized by family and friends. Meeting with a therapist prior to the event may aid the mother (and her partner, if desired) to establish a safe, trusting alliance that will serve as a resource for her during and after her pregnancy. It is also helpful to have a therapist available to assess the severity of the depression and make recommendations about treatment options. Remember, postpartum blues usually go away within a couple of weeks after the birth. If the symptoms of depression mentioned earlier persist, it is important to seek professional assistance. In any event, understanding the symptoms and planning ahead for this possibility may be the best option in managing postpartum depression.

Laura R. Meers, Ph.D.

Consulting Psychologist