What causes PPD?
No one knows for sure. No single cause has been identified. No researcher has found the gene or a germ that pitches women into despair before and after having a baby. PPD is probably caused by several factors that converge to create the perfect emotional storm. One important factor is sensitivity to hormonal changes. For some women changes in hormones which occur during puberty, the menstrual cycle, birth and menopause, result in severe mood changes and depressions. Women who suffer from PMS or PMDD (a depressive illness that lasts for one week per month) are tremendously more likely to develop PPD. Intense disillusionment is a frequent component of PPD. Women are overwhelmed by the difference between the way they imagined childbirth and the reality, often shattering their fantasy that this will be the most glorious day of their life and they will be the star of the show with a serene happy baby. Difficult labors and C-sections seem to be important factors for some mothers. Many women
