1.What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a treatable medical illness that affects as many as 1 in 5 women after giving birth. It can develop anywhere from a few weeks to a year after delivery, but it’s most common in the first three months postpartum. Postpartum depression can be hard to spot, because the moodiness and other symptoms are similar to the “baby blues” — a short-lived state that affects up to 80% of new mothers, according to the NIH.
2.Symptom: Depressed Mood
It’s normal to feel emotional when you’ve just had a baby. Hormone shifts, lack of sleep, and adjusting to life with a newborn can seem overwhelming. But if you’ve been feeling sad, moody, guilty, or hopeless for more than a couple of weeks, it could be postpartum depression. Some women also report that they don’t feel any joy or excitement about their new baby, and they get no pleasure from things they once enjoyed.
