Could I Have Postpartum Depression?

Have you felt "off" after having a baby - even if it's been months? You may wonder if stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and exhaustion are just part of the deal when you have a baby. To some degree, yes, having a baby is a challenging time in your life, but there is a point where what you're experiencing may not be normal.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a condition which affects at least 20% of new parents. It can present any time in the year after giving birth - not just during the immediate postpartum period. Postpartum depression is not to be confused with "the baby blues", which affect up to 80% of new parents and is characterized by crying, mood swings, fatigue, and anxiety in the first week or two postpartum. Postpartum depression symptoms mimic those of regular clinical depression.

How Do You Tell if You Have Postpartum Depression?

While there are many possible symptoms of postpartum depression, these are some of the most common ones that afflict new parents and may clue you in that something's wrong:

• Feeling unable to cope
• Inability to sleep
• Frequent crying
• Thoughts of self-harm
• Inability to bond with the baby
• Inability to enjoy things you once enjoyed
• Loss of interest in sex
• Over- or -undereating
• Anxiety
• Intrusive thoughts

Remember, you may not have all of these, and you may experience symptoms at some times and not others. Are your symptoms recurring on a regular basis for more than two weeks and making you worry that this is just the way your life is now?

What Should I Do if I Think I Have Postpartum Depression?

Here is a list (by no means exhaustive) of the people who can help you with postpartum depression. By opening up to as many of these people as possible, you can form a team who cares about your well-being and can help you come up with ways to battle postpartum depression.

• Your spouse/partner
• Your OB-GYN or Midwife
• Your Doula/Postpartum Doula
• Your Primary Physician
• A Licensed Family Therapist with Experience in Perinatal Mood Disorders

Additionally, you should try to practice good self-care and allow others to care for you. Get help with the baby and housework at least a few times a week, and do what you have to do to get a reasonable amount of sleep. Your postpartum doula can fulfill many of these needs for you and help your stress level go down and your amount of sleep go up!

For more exhaustive information about postpartum depression and other perinatal mood disorders, read up at the excellent and supportive site Postpartum Progress.