Postpartum Depression
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 4, 2025.
What is postpartum depression (PPD)?
PPD is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness or hopelessness that do not go away. PPD occurs after your baby is born. Your symptoms may last up to 12 months after delivery. Your symptoms may become severe and affect your daily activities and relationships.
What are the symptoms of PPD?
- Feeling sad, anxious, tearful, discouraged, hopeless, or alone
- Thoughts that you are not a good mother
- Trouble completing daily tasks, concentrating, or remembering things
- Lack of appetite
- Lack of interest in your baby
- Feeling restless, irritable, or withdrawn
- An overwhelmed feeling with your new baby and a belief that it will not get better
- Feeling unimportant or guilty most of the time
- Trouble sleeping, even after the baby is asleep
What increases my risk for PPD?
The exact cause is not known. Any of the following may increase your risk:
- Sudden hormone changes after birth
- A history of PPD or a family history of depression
- Giving birth to more than 1 baby
- A lack of support at home, stress, or medical problems
How is PPD diagnosed?
Healthcare providers will talk to you about how you are feeling and ask if you have any symptoms of depression. These talks can happen during appointments for your medical care and for your baby's care, such as well child visits. Talk to your providers about the following:
- When you started to feel depressed, and if it is getting worse over time
- If you have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby
- Problems you are having with daily activities, sleep, or caring for your baby
- If anything makes your depression worse, or makes you feel better
- Feeling that you are not bonding with your baby the way you want
- Any problems your baby has with sleeping or feeding
- If your baby is fussy or cries a lot
- Support you have from friends, family, or others
How is PPD treated?
- Talk therapy is used to help you cope with your feelings. Talk therapy can be with a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist. Sessions may be done alone or with family.
- Antidepressant medicine may be given to decrease or manage symptoms. You may need to take this medicine for several weeks before they start working. Tell your provider about any side effects or problems you have with your medicine. The type or amount of medicine may need to be changed.
Treatment options
The following list of medications are related to or used in the treatment of this condition.
What can I do to manage PPD?
It may take a few weeks to feel better. Be patient with yourself. The following can help you manage your symptoms:
- Rest as needed. Take a nap or rest while your baby sleeps. Ask someone to watch your baby while you nap.
- Get emotional support. Share your feelings with your partner, a friend, or another mother. Ask your partner, friends, or family to help with cooking or cleaning. Do only what is needed and let other things wait until later.
- Exercise when you can. Even 5 or 10 minutes of exercise can help improve your mood. Walk around the block or do some stretching exercises.
- Eat a variety of healthy foods. Healthy foods include fruits, vegetables, whole-grain breads, low-fat dairy products, beans, lean meats, and fish. Do not skip meals. Tell your healthcare provider if you have no appetite or cannot eat. Your provider can help you create a healthy meal plan.
- Care for yourself. Shower and dress yourself each day. Do things you enjoy. Celebrate small achievements, even if it is only 1 thing a day. Try to get out of the house for a short time each day. Meet a friend for coffee.
Call your local emergency number (911 in the US) if:
- You think about hurting yourself or your baby.
Call your doctor if:
- Your symptoms get worse or do not get better with treatment.
- Your depression keeps you from doing your regular daily activities.
- You have new symptoms since your last visit.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Care Agreement
You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.© Copyright Merative 2025 Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.
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