What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that can affect women after they give birth. It’s a type of depression that can affect women during the weeks, months, or even years following childbirth. While some degree of mood disturbance is common during the first few weeks postpartum, some new mothers may experience more intense and extended symptoms of depression that can cause significant impairment in their day-to-day functioning. It’s characterized by intense feelings of sadness, worthlessness, and fatigue; sleep and appetite problems; difficulty concentrating or connecting with your baby. It’s estimated that postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women.

3 signs of postpartum depression

1. Feeling like you’re a terrible mother.

   • You’re doing everything you can do but it still feels like you’re failing as a mother.

   • The house might be mess, the laundry isn’t done, and the dishes are piling up.

   • You thought motherhood would be much easier than it currently feels.

   • You’re struggling to connect with your baby.

   • You’re starting to think you shouldn’t have become a mother.

2. Difficulty sleeping.

   • You are sleeping too much because you don’t want to deal with everything you have going on right now.

   • You are not sleeping because you’re constantly worried about something happening while you’re sleeping.

3. Extreme feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

   • You are constantly upset or crying over things that normally wouldn’t bother you.

   • You’re feeling like you’re never going to get a handle on this whole motherhood thing.

   • You might be thinking, what’s the point since the world is a dumpster fire right now.

   • You feel like everyone is against you.

   • You feel sad most of the time for no reason in particular.

You are NOT alone. You don’t have to suffer in silence. Therapy is the solution.