Key Takeaways:
- Postpartum depression can cause persistent sadness, anxiety, irritability, hopelessness, loss of interest, difficulty concentrating, changes in sleep or appetite, trouble bonding with the baby, and feelings of guilt or worthlessness.
- How do you know if you have postpartum depression? Symptoms that persist beyond about two weeks, become increasingly difficult to manage, or interfere with caring for yourself or your baby may indicate postpartum depression rather than the temporary “baby blues.”
- Postpartum depression doesn’t always feel like sadness. Anxiety, panic attacks, anger, irritability, emotional numbness, or feeling disconnected can also be prominent symptoms.
- Postpartum depression is diagnosed through a clinical evaluation of symptoms, their duration and severity, medical and mental health history, and their effect on daily functioning. Screening tools such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) may also help identify people who need further evaluation.
- Postpartum depression is treatable with options such as psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, postpartum-specific medications such as zuranolone (Zurzuvae), and social support. Hallucinations, delusions, severe confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby require immediate medical attention.
The weeks after having a baby can be a lot. You’re healing physically, running on almost no sleep, and adjusting to a completely new routine, all while taking care of someone who depends on you for everything. In the middle of that, it can be hard to tell what’s a normal adjustment and what might be something more.
Feeling sad, exhausted, irritable, anxious, or overwhelmed doesn’t automatically mean you have postpartum depression. Many new parents go through a short stretch of the “baby blues” that fades on its own. Knowing the difference can help you figure out when it’s time to get help.
That being said, if you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or you feel severely confused, are seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, or believe things that don’t make sense, get help right away. Those symptoms need immediate attention.
What Is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is depression that develops during the period after childbirth. It’s not the same as being stressed or worn out from caring for a newborn, even though those things can be part of it. It’s a real medical condition, and several factors can play a role in why it happens:
- Hormonal changes after delivery, including sharp drops in estrogen and progesterone
- Physical recovery from pregnancy and birth
- Lack of sleep and ongoing exhaustion
- Stressful life events
- Not having enough support at home
- A personal or family history of depression or other mental health conditions
Having postpartum depression says nothing about your ability to be a good parent. It’s a health issue, not a character flaw, and it can happen to anyone. It also doesn’t look the same for everyone, so your experience may not match what you’ve heard from a friend or read online.
Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression: How Can You Tell the Difference?
The baby blues are extremely common. Many new parents experience them to some degree in the first days after delivery. They can include:
- Mood swings
- Feeling sad or tearful for no clear reason
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Trouble sleeping
The baby blues usually start within the first few days after birth and ease up on their own within about two weeks. If your symptoms are still there past the two-week mark, are getting harder to manage, or are making it difficult to take care of yourself or your baby, talk with a health care provider as soon as possible. You also don’t have to wait two weeks to ask for help; if you’re struggling, a mental health provider can help you at any time.
What Are the Symptoms of Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression can show up in a lot of different ways. Common symptoms include:
- Persistent sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Crying often, sometimes without knowing why
- Irritability or restlessness
- Severe anxiety or panic attacks
- Losing interest or pleasure in things you normally enjoy
- Fatigue or loss of energy that goes beyond what you’d expect from caring for a newborn
- Trouble sleeping even when the baby is asleep, or sleeping far more than usual
- Changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or not being good enough
- Trouble bonding with your baby
- Pulling away from family and friends
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or harming yourself or your baby
One thing that catches some people off guard is that postpartum depression doesn’t always look like sadness. For some people, the most noticeable symptoms are anxiety, anger, irritability, or feeling emotionally numb and disconnected. If you don’t feel “depressed” in the way you expected but something still feels off, it’s still worth talking with a provider about whether postpartum depression or another condition could be contributing.
How Is Postpartum Depression Diagnosed?
You don’t have to figure out on your own whether what you’re feeling counts as postpartum depression. A health care provider or mental health professional can evaluate your symptoms and help you make sense of them. That usually means talking about what you’ve been experiencing, how long it has been going on, how severe the symptoms are, and how much they’re affecting your ability to function and care for yourself or your baby.
Your provider may ask about changes in your mood, sleep, appetite, energy, concentration, and ability to enjoy things you normally would. They may also ask about anxiety or panic attacks, difficulty bonding with your baby, thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, your pregnancy and childbirth experience, and any personal or family history of depression or other mental health conditions.
Because certain medical conditions can contribute to symptoms that resemble depression, your provider may also consider your physical health, medications, and whether additional medical testing is appropriate.
One common screening tool is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), a short questionnaire about how you’ve felt over the past week. A high score doesn’t mean you definitively have postpartum depression, but it can indicate that a more thorough evaluation is needed. Your provider will consider the screening results alongside your symptoms and medical history before making a diagnosis and recommending treatment.
What Is Postpartum Psychosis, and How Is It Different?
Postpartum psychosis is not a more severe form of postpartum depression. It’s a separate condition, and while it’s rare, it’s a psychiatric emergency. Warning signs can include:
- Hallucinations, such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t there
- Delusions or beliefs that aren’t based in reality
- Severe confusion or disorientation
- Extreme agitation or restlessness
- Dramatic, sudden changes in mood or behavior
- Going with very little sleep while feeling unusually energetic or acting out of character
Any thoughts or behaviors involving harming yourself or your baby need immediate professional help. If you or someone close to you notices these signs, call 911 or go to the emergency room.
How Is Postpartum Depression Treated?
Treatment is dependent on the facts of your situation; there isn’t necessarily a one-size-fits-all approach. What your treatment looks like depends on how severe your symptoms are, your medical history, whether you’re experiencing anxiety, whether you’re breastfeeding, and what you’re comfortable with.
Support from a partner, family, friends, or a postpartum support group can make professional treatment more effective. And you don’t have to choose between therapy and medication. For many people, the most effective plan includes both.
Talk Therapy
Talk therapy may be part of the treatment plan, either on its own or alongside medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help identify and change negative thought patterns that contribute to depression, while interpersonal therapy focuses on relationship changes and the major role transitions that can come with having a new baby. Other psychotherapy approaches may also be appropriate depending on your symptoms and individual needs.
Medication
Medication may be recommended for some people. SSRIs and other antidepressants are sometimes considered, including for people who are breastfeeding. Your provider can help weigh the potential benefits, risks, and side effects of different medications and choose an option based on your individual circumstances.
There are also medications developed specifically for postpartum depression. Zuranolone (Zurzuvae) is an FDA-approved oral medication for postpartum depression. A psychiatric provider can determine whether this treatment or a traditional antidepressant may be appropriate.
Get Help for Postpartum Depression at Luxury Psychiatry Clinic
If the weeks after your baby’s arrival have been more difficult than you expected, you don’t have to wait for things to improve on their own. At Luxury Psychiatry Clinic, we start with a thorough evaluation to understand what you’re experiencing and whether it’s postpartum depression, anxiety, or something else. From there, we build a treatment plan that works for you and your baby. We’ll do everything we can to help you get back on track. Contact Luxury Psychiatry Clinic today to schedule a confidential consultation.
