Postpartum Depression Symptoms: ​5 Common Signs of PPD to Look for in New Moms by Dr. Alan Lindemann

Many times, new mothers don’t really recognize they are depressed. If you have any notion you might be depressed after giving birth, seek medical attention as soon as possible. If unable to get an appointment with your obstetrician, try your community hotlines for depression.

Here some of the most common signs that you are likely suffering from postpartum depression:

1. Overwhelming feelings of sadness.
2. Feeling fatigued, like you can’t get anything done.
3. Feeling unmotivated to care for yourself or your baby.
4. Having trouble breastfeeding your baby.
5. Feelings of guilt and believing you’re not a good parent.

Initial sadness and difficulty caring for your newborn in the first couple weeks after giving birth is often called "the baby blues." The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says this is not uncommon, and that it typically resolves on its own. If depression continues after eight to 10 weeks, however, it is called postpartum depression. 

When postpartum depression is not addressed, the new mom becomes a suicide risk. When the depression continues to deepen from lack of treatment, the mother enters the stage of postpartum psychosis. With psychosis, the lives of her children are at risk.

In the United States, between 70 and 80 percent of women experience the “baby blues,” and an estimated one in seven women experience postpartum depression in the first year after birth.

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