Am I at risk for Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is not a commonly talked about phenomena. We normally are told that postpartum will be joyful with our new baby, and perhaps you might be teary eyed for a day or two. Until recently not much thought was given to treating or preventing postpartum depression. The Basics Most women will experience a form of depression known as the Baby Blues. This is generally seen about three days after the birth and can last about two weeks. The normal reactions for this are: crying, irritability, anger, exhaustion, tension, restlessness, anxiety, and possibly insomnia. Hormones do play a large part in this, however, some is normal and should be expected, particularly considering the stress and strain of a new baby. A fewer percentage of the women will have true postpartum depression. This is generally characterized by a worsening of the normal symptoms, possibly postpartum panic or mania, even obsessive-compulsive disorders (including repetitive thoughts that might be repulsive).
