Postpartum depression

Postpartum depression (PPD), also called postnatal depression, is a type of mood disorder that happens after childbirth. It can affect both sexes. Symptoms may include extreme sadness, low energy, anxiety, crying episodes, and changes in sleeping or eating patterns.^[1]

Postpartum depression occurs after childbirth and can happen to men or women

PPD can negatively affect parents of any gender as well as the newborn child.^[2][3]

Diagnosis is based on a person's symptoms.^[3] While most women experience a short time of worry or unhappiness after giving birth, postpartum depression should be seen when symptoms are severe and last over two weeks.^[1]

Prevalence

Postpartum depression affects roughly 8.9% to 10.1% of women in high-income countries, and 17.8% to 19.7% of women in low- and middle-income countries.^[4] The condition also affects between 1% and 26% of new fathers.^[5]

Postpartum depression is most common in mothers who have had experienced stillbirth, live in urban areas, and/or are single mothers.^[6]

Causes & risk factors

While the exact cause of PPD is unknown, the cause is believed to be a combination of physical, emotional, genetic, and social factors.^[7] Hormonal changes and sleep problems may also play a role.^[8]

People are more likely to develop PPD if they have bipolar disorder, a family history of depression, psychological stress, problems during childbirth, lack of support, or a substance use disorder.^[1]

Prevention & treatment

Giving psychosocial support to new mothers can sometimes prevent PPD.^[9] This might include community support (like food), household chores, mother care, and friendship.^[10]

Treatment for PPD may include counseling or medications.^[3] Several types of counseling have been found to be useful in treating PPD.^[3]

Mental disorders during pregnancy can impact future pregnancies and the decision-making choices the mother makes. This includes anesthetic use, trying for a vaginal birth, or electing to have a C-section.

Postpartum psychosis

Main article: Postpartum psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is a more severe form of postpartum mood disorder. In women who have never had postpartum psychosis before, about 1 to 2 per 1,000 develop it following childbirth.^[11][12] The risk of developing postpartum psychosis increases in future pregnancies if it has happened before.

Postpartum psychosis is one of the leading causes of murder of children less than one year of age. It happens in about 8 per 100,000 births in the United States.^[13]

Related pages

• Postpartum period
• Postpartum psychosis
• Fluoxetine
• Aesop