Postpartum depression is a form of depression that can begin after childbirth. It’s symptoms vary from person to person, and has important differences from ‘baby blues’.
- Baby blues are feelings of sadness that a woman may have in the first few days after having a baby. Up to 4 in 5 new parents (80 percent) have the baby blues.
- It can affect new parents of any race, age, income, culture or education level. Baby blues usually go away by themselves within a week or two of giving birth. One doesn’t need medical treatment for baby blues.
- Baby blues are different than postpartum depression, which is more severe and lasts longer.
- In clinical practice, Postpartum depression period can last anywhere between four to six weeks following delivery, but sometimes even up to a year.
- Women can be affected by a range of mental health problems in pregnancy and the postpartum period, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, psychosis, and personality and eating disorders.
- Despite this, perinatal psychiatric disorders have not received the attention, in terms of clinical practice, research, and funding, that they deserve.
