Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression can affect any woman during pregnancy or after childbirth. It is estimated that PPD affects approximately 10% to 20% of women giving birth globally. In the US, estimates of new mothers identified with PPD each year vary by state from 8% to 20%.

What causes Postpartum depression(PPD)?

Hormonal changes following birth may play a role. Postpartum depression(PPD) is not a personal failure or a reflection of a woman'e skills as a mother. While the exact cause of PPD is unknown, changes in reproductive hormones may be a factor. During pregnancy, the levels of these hormones rise dramatically. After a woman gives birth, most hormone levels return to pre-pregnancy levels within 1 to 2 weeks. These changes may put some women at risk for developing PPD.

Having a baby changes your body and your life in ways that are hard to predict. Feeling sad, moody, or tired is normal in the first few weeks after childbirth. Postpartum depression is different. Postpartum symptoms last longer than the "baby blues," and can interfere with your daily activities.

Common symptoms of PPD include feeling overly anxious, irritability, nagging self-doubt about your mothering skills, feeling sad, empty, crying more often than usual, feeling moody, oversleeping or being unable to sleep when your baby is asleep. Please contact your doctor right away if you experience any of these symptoms right away to be assessed for PPD.

Please contact your doctor and a counselor right away to discuss your symptoms and possible treatment plan for PPD. Donna Schwartz, LICSW can evaluate and treat PPD. She can be reached at 202-728-9550 or [email protected]