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\nYour body and mind go through many changes during and after pregnancy. If you feel empty, emotionless, or sad all or most of the time for longer than 2 weeks during or after pregnancy, reach out for help. If you feel like you don\u2019t love or care for your baby, you might have postpartum depression. Treatment for depression, such as therapy or medicine, works and will help you and your baby be as healthy as possible in the future.
\n\u201cPostpartum\u201d means the time after childbirth. Most women get the \u201cbaby blues,\u201d or feel sad or empty, within a few days of giving birth. For many women, the baby blues go away in 3 to 5 days. If your baby blues don\u2019t go away or you feel sad, hopeless, or empty for longer than 2 weeks, you may have postpartum depression. Feeling hopeless or empty after childbirth is not a regular or expected part of being a mother.
\nPostpartum depression is a serious mental illness that involves the brain and affects your behavior and physical health. If you have depression, then sad, flat, or empty feelings don\u2019t go away and can interfere with your day-to-day life. You might feel unconnected to your baby, as if you are not the baby\u2019s mother, or you might not love or care for the baby. These feelings can be mild to severe.
\nMothers can also experience anxiety disorders during or after pregnancy.
\nDepression is a common problem after pregnancy. One in 9 new mothers has postpartum depression.1\">1
\nSome normal changes after pregnancy can cause symptoms similar to those of depression. Many mothers feel overwhelmed when a new baby comes home. But if you have any of the following symptoms of depression for more than 2 weeks, call your doctor, nurse, or midwife:
\nSome women don\u2019t tell anyone about their symptoms. New mothers may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. They may also worry they will be seen as bad mothers. Any woman can become depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby. It doesn\u2019t mean you are a bad mom. You and your baby don\u2019t have to suffer. There is help. Your doctor can help you figure out whether your symptoms are caused by depression or something else.
\nHormonal changes may trigger symptoms of postpartum depression. When you are pregnant, levels of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are the highest they\u2019ll ever be. In the first 24 hours after childbirth, hormone levels quickly drop back to normal, pre-pregnancy levels. Researchers think this sudden change in hormone levels may lead to depression.2\">2 This is similar to hormone changes before a woman\u2019s period but involves much more extreme swings in hormone levels.
\nLevels of thyroid hormones may also drop after giving birth. The thyroid is a small gland in the neck that helps regulate how your body uses and stores energy from food. Low levels of thyroid hormones can cause symptoms of depression. A simple blood test can tell whether this condition is causing your symptoms. If so, your doctor can prescribe thyroid medicine.
\nOther feelings may contribute to postpartum depression. Many new mothers say they feel:
\nThese feelings are common among new mothers. But postpartum depression is a serious health condition and can be treated. Postpartum depression is not a regular or expected part of being a new mother.
\nYes. You may be more at risk of postpartum depression if you:3\">3
\nThe U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that doctors look for and ask about symptoms of depression during and after pregnancy, regardless of a woman\u2019s risk of depression.4\">4
\nMany women have the baby blues in the days after childbirth. If you have the baby blues, you may:
\nThe baby blues usually go away in 3 to 5 days after they start. The symptoms of postpartum depression last longer and are more severe. Postpartum depression usually begins within the first month after childbirth, but it can begin during pregnancy or for up to a year after birth.5\">5
\nPostpartum depression needs to be treated by a doctor or nurse.
\nPostpartum psychosis is rare. It happens in up to 4 new mothers out of every 1,000 births. It usually begins in the first 2 weeks after childbirth. It is a medical emergency. Women who have bipolar disorder or another mental health condition called schizoaffective disorder have a higher risk of postpartum psychosis. Symptoms may include:
\nCall your doctor, nurse, midwife, or pediatrician if:
\nAsk your partner or a loved one to call for you if necessary. Your doctor, nurse, or midwife can ask you questions to test for depression. They can also refer you to a mental health professional for help and treatment.
\nHere are some ways to begin feeling better or getting more rest, in addition to talking to a health care professional:
\nIt can also help to have a partner, a friend, or another caregiver who can help take care of the baby while you are depressed. If you are feeling depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby, don\u2019t suffer alone. Tell a loved one and call your doctor right away.
\nThe common types of treatment for postpartum depression are:
\nMedicine. There are different types of medicines for postpartum depression. All of them must be prescribed by your doctor or nurse. The most common type is antidepressants. Antidepressants can help relieve symptoms of depression and some can be taken while you're breastfeeding. Antidepressants may take several weeks to start working.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also approved a medicine called brexanolone to treat postpartum depression in adult women.6 Brexanolone is given by a doctor or nurse through an IV for 2\u00bd days (60 hours). Because of the risk of side effects, this medicine can only be given in a clinic or office while you are under the care of a doctor or nurse. Brexanolone may not be safe to take while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Another type of medicine called esketamine can treat depression and is given as a nasal (nose) spray in a doctor's office or clinic. Esketamine can hurt an unborn baby. You should not take esketamine if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
These treatments can be used alone or together. Talk with your doctor or nurse about the benefits and risks of taking medicine to treat depression when you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
\nHaving depression can affect your baby. Getting treatment is important for you and your baby. Taking medicines for depression or going to therapy does not make you a bad mother or a failure. Getting help is a sign of strength.
\nUntreated postpartum depression can affect your ability to parent. You may:
\nFeeling like a bad mother can make depression worse. It is important to reach out for help if you feel depressed.
\nResearchers believe postpartum depression in a mother can affect her child throughout childhood, causing:7\">7
\nFor more information about postpartum depression, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or check out these resources from the following organizations:
\nThis content is provided by the Office on Women's Health.
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