A woman who finds herself depressed during the postpartum period does not fit into the cultural expectation that she should feel joyful and fulfilled. Her depression may be complicated by guilt about feeling depressed. To further compound the problem, many doctors dismiss postpartum depression as "postpartum blues" or "baby blues," and the depression goes untreated for many months. During this time, the mother-infant bond can be severely disrupted.
The "baby blues" begin during the first week postpartum (after giving birth). A woman who has the "baby blues" may experience tearfulness, anxiety, and irritability, which are not severe enough to affect her ability to function and to take care of herself and her baby.
Usually, no treatment beyond social support and reassurance is required, as the symptoms spontaneously go away within the first two weeks postpartum. However, if the symptoms get worse or last for longer than two weeks, the woman should seek professional help immediately.
Since there seems to be some societal stigma about postpartum depression, I want to begin by saying, most emphatically, that postpartum depression is not a character flaw; it does not mean that a woman is "unnatural" in any way. Rather it is a very serious illness, which can be successfully treated.
Why does postpartum depression occur? There have been many theories - hormonal, sleep deprivation, unhappy marriage, feeling overwhelmed, lack of adult company and social support. All of these conditions figure into the equation to some extent. It is worth noting that PPD (postpartum depression) is frequently seen in women who have bipolar disorder (manic depression), though not all women who have it suffer from bipolar disorder. Also, if a woman has suffered PPD in the past, she is very likely to suffer another after she gives birth again.
Symptoms of PPD may begin immediately after giving birth or up to two weeks postpartum. The most common symptoms are tearfulness, feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy, anxiety, lethargy, and irritability. The mother may become suicidal. This is the time for intervention, if help hasn't already been obtained. If a mother feels sucicidal, this can then quickly progress to feeling like she might harm or kill her baby.
The new mother may be reluctant to admit such feelings; she may feel embarrassed or ashamed of them because they go counter to cultural expectations. She may be dead set against medication or her family may discourage her from seeking help. But it must be kept in mind that this is a medical emergency
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