Am I At Risk for Postpartum Depression?

There’s no question about it — welcoming a new baby is one of life's happiest and most exhilarating events. 

The postpartum period is also a time of drastic hormonal shifts, and this can lead to a more challenging emotional state — postpartum depression. Although temporary sadness, exhaustion, and worry affect most new moms, these “baby blues” typically dissipate within a week after birth.

Postpartum depression is different, however. Here, we’ll talk about how it’s different, the symptoms to watch for, and its prevalence.

The compassionate provider team at Southdale Ob/Gyn — including our certified nurse midwives who help you before, during, and after your baby’s birth — is dedicated to giving you the care you need as you navigate this exceptional time, whether you’re having your first child or your fourth. We’re here to answer questions, provide advanced care, and partner with you during pregnancy, birth, and beyond.

What is postpartum depression?

We talked about the “baby blues” that nearly every new mom experiences. After all, you’ve been through a joyful but physically and mentally challenging and life-changing experience. 

When postpartum sadness, anxiety, or hopelessness lasts beyond two weeks, however, this would be considered postpartum depression, and you need to seek treatment. Other symptoms to watch for include:

• Appetite changes
• Crying or feelings of despair that aren’t typical
• Sleep problems (even though having a newborn also causes those)
• Noticeable lack of enjoyment in things you used to like doing
• Reduced self-esteem or feelings of worthiness
• Imagining harming yourself or your baby
• Social isolation

As you can imagine, coping with these symptoms for even a short time would be especially hard while trying to care for a new baby, and the longer they last and go untreated, the deeper into a quagmire of hopelessness you can get.

Am I at risk for postpartum depression?

Any woman who gives birth is at risk for postpartum depression. We know that one in eight women who give birth are affected by the condition within the year after they give birth. 

Unfortunately, many are hesitant or wait too long to seek care because of our persistent, unfair expectations of new mothers — that you should always feel grateful and happy now that your baby is here and that these feelings may indicate flaws in you as a mother. 

The sooner every new mom can understand that postpartum depression is nothing to be ashamed of, the better! The key is getting treated so you can feel better and more fully enjoy your baby.

Though no one is immune to experiencing postpartum depression, there are risk factors that can make you a more likely candidate, including:

• A personal or family history of depression or mood disorders
• Living with borderline personality disorder
• Having had postpartum depression after an earlier birth
• Having a multiple birth
• Giving birth to a child with special needs or other health problems
• Having a baby who was born prematurely
• Having trouble breastfeeding your baby
• Experiencing relationship or financial challenges
• If your pregnancy was unplanned
• If your support system isn’t strong

There’s good news, though. Effective treatments exist for postpartum depression that can successfully address these challenges and allow you to connect better with your baby and enjoy this season of life.

If you’re diagnosed with postpartum depression while you’re still in the hospital, it’s possible to get intravenous medication that can help, and after you leave, your doctor might prescribe an antidepressant that’s safe for you to take, even if you’re breastfeeding. 

Additionally, there are steps you can take that can help, including joining a new mom’s group to connect with other women who may also be coping with postpartum depression, seeing a therapist, reaching out for support from friends and family, eating well, and getting enough rest. 

Another reason to get treated for postpartum depression is that in addition to affecting you, the condition can impact your partner, other children, and even your baby. For example, research shows that postpartum depression often leads mothers to stop breastfeeding and triggers problems bonding with their babies.

We’re here for you no matter what issues you need help with during your pregnancy and after your baby is born. 

Call us at 952-920-7001 to schedule an appointment at our Edina or Burnsville office, or use our convenient online booking tool.