Postpartum blues and depression

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Postpartum blues and depression

Postpartum blues

Mood swings from joy to depression are not unusual in the days and weeks after delivery. About 50% of women will develop "postpartum blues," or "baby blues," 3 to 6 days after childbirth. Postpartum blues are thought to be caused by changing levels of hormones in the body after delivery. This condition is mild and usually lasts only a few days. Symptoms of postpartum blues include:¹

• Insomnia.
• Tearfulness.
• Anxiety.
• Sadness.
• Hopelessness.
• Irritability.
• Poor concentration.

Postpartum depression

In some women postpartum blues becomes a more serious condition called postpartum depression, sometime in the first 3 months after delivery. Postpartum depression affects up to 15% of women.¹

Postpartum depression affects both you and your baby, interfering with your ability to function, mother-child bonding, and child development and safety.²

You are at increased risk of postpartum depression if you have had a depressive episode before. If you have a history of depression, plan ahead for your first months with your new baby. Discuss your depression history with your health professional ahead of time, including any antidepressant medication that has worked for you before.

Contact your health professional if you have symptoms of depression that last longer than 2 weeks or if you have troubling or dangerous thoughts.

Research suggests that antidepressant medication and cognitive-behavioral therapy are equally effective treatments for depressed postpartum women.³ There are a number of antidepressants that are safe for use during breast-feeding. Regular exercise combined with antidepressants or support from a licensed counselor can help you through this tough time.

References

Citations

1. Cunningham FG, et al. (2005). Neurological and psychiatric disorders. In Williams Obstetrics, 22nd ed., pp. 1229–1248. New York: McGraw–Hill.

2. Wisner KL, et al. (2002). Postpartum depression. New England Journal of Medicine, 347(3): 194–199.

3. Appleby L, et al. (1997). A controlled study of fluoxetine and cognitive-behavioural counselling in the treatment of postnatal depression. BMJ, 314(7085): 932–936.

Credits

Last updated:	December 19, 2005
Author:	Lila Havens
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Michele Cronen