Postpartum Depression

Key takeaways

• Baby blues: very common; usually ease within about 2 weeks of birth
• Postpartum depression: about 1 in 8 people who recently gave birth report symptoms, per CDC
• Most useful single change: Tell your obstetric provider, your primary care doctor or your baby's pediatrician how you are feeling; any of them can start the conversation.
• Commonest mistake: Waiting for symptoms that last more than 2 weeks to go away on their own.
• See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.

Why it matters

It is common and treatable, but it often goes unreported, and untreated depression affects the parent's health, bonding and the baby's development.

The numbers, in one place

Published figures for Postpartum Depression

Measure	Figure
Baby blues	very common; usually ease within about 2 weeks of birth
Postpartum depression	about 1 in 8 people who recently gave birth report symptoms, per CDC
When it can start	during pregnancy or any time in the first year after birth
Screening	recommended at prenatal and postpartum visits and at the baby's well-child visits
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline	1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), call or text, 24/7, free and confidential

What helps

• Tell your obstetric provider, your primary care doctor or your baby's pediatrician how you are feeling; any of them can start the conversation
• Accept practical help with feeding, chores and night shifts so you can sleep
• Ask about talk therapy and medicines; several options are considered compatible with breastfeeding
• Stay in touch with people you trust and look for a local or online postpartum support group

What to avoid

• Waiting for symptoms that last more than 2 weeks to go away on their own
• Feeling that asking for help means you are failing as a parent
• Stopping prescribed medicine suddenly without talking to your clinician

In depth

After birth, levels of estrogen and progesterone drop sharply within days. Combined with broken sleep, physical recovery, the demands of a newborn and changes in identity and relationships, this shift affects mood for almost everyone. The baby blues reflect this: tearfulness and mood swings that peak in the first week and settle on their own. Postpartum depression is different in its depth and duration.

In postpartum depression, low mood, anxiety or a sense of emptiness persist for weeks and interfere with eating, sleeping, caring for yourself or the baby, or enjoying anything. Many people also experience intense anxiety, intrusive thoughts or irritability rather than sadness. Some describe feeling disconnected from the baby, which can bring guilt and silence.

Perinatal depression is a medical condition, not a character flaw or a sign of being a bad parent. It can affect anyone, including those with planned, wanted pregnancies and plenty of support, and it can also affect partners and adoptive parents. Treatment works, and getting help early protects both the parent and the baby's development.

Signs and symptoms

• Feeling sad, hopeless, empty or overwhelmed most of the day for more than 2 weeks
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy, or feeling numb
• Severe anxiety, panic attacks or constant worry about the baby
• Intrusive, unwanted thoughts or images about harm coming to the baby
• Trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps, or sleeping much more than usual
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or unable to bond with the baby
• Withdrawing from friends and family or thoughts that they would be better off without you

Causes and risk factors

• A personal or family history of depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder
• Depression or anxiety during pregnancy
• Lack of support, relationship stress, or intimate partner violence
• A difficult birth, a baby in the NICU, or a pregnancy loss
• Financial stress, food or housing insecurity
• Severe sleep deprivation and difficulties with feeding

How it is checked

Screening uses short questionnaires such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale or the PHQ-9, which ask how you have felt over recent weeks. Your obstetric provider, primary care doctor or the baby's pediatrician may give one at routine visits. A positive screen is not a diagnosis, but it starts a conversation about what you are experiencing.

Your provider will ask about how long symptoms have lasted, their effect on daily life, sleep, any thoughts of harm, and past mental health. They may check for physical causes such as thyroid problems or anemia. They will also look for signs of bipolar disorder or postpartum psychosis, which need different and urgent care.

Related topics

• The Evidence on Hormones and Mood, Without the Hype (Thyroid and Hormones)
• The Evidence on Men and Mental Health, Without the Hype (Men's Health)
• Teen Mental Health and 988: What Published Guidance Supports (Teen Health)
• The Evidence on Low Mood and Depression, Without the Hype (Mental Health)

Where to go next

• A Q and A on Postpartum Depression
• Postpartum Depression: The Quick Reference
• Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Complete Guide
• The Evidence on Breastfeeding Basics, Without the Hype
• What the Guidance Really Says About Postpartum Checkups

When to get help

See your doctor if low mood, anxiety, trouble bonding, hopelessness or being unable to sleep even when the baby sleeps lasts more than 2 weeks. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 or call 911 now; call 911 also for confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there, or severe agitation.

Where this comes from

• National Institute of Mental Health — Perinatal Depression
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Postpartum Depression
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Get Help

How this page was put together

Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.

Medical disclaimer

This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.