Glossary

Term · Postpartum: Mind

postpartum depression

Also: PPD, postnatal depression

A depression that starts after birth, with low mood, loss of interest, exhaustion, and trouble bonding or coping. It is common, treatable, and not a personal failing.

In plain words

Postpartum depression is a depressive illness that begins during pregnancy or in the first year after birth. It is more than the . Symptoms last two weeks or longer and include low or empty mood, loss of interest in things that used to matter, feeling worthless or guilty, trouble focusing, and changes in sleep and appetite beyond what the baby causes. Sometimes there are thoughts of not wanting to live. Roughly one in seven mothers has it, according to US estimates. It is often missed because mothers feel they are supposed to be coping. It is not a sign of weak character or of being a bad mother. It is treatable with , support, sleep protection, and medication when a provider recommends it. Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby need emergency help now: call or text , or call 911.

The deeper version

Postpartum depression is a major depressive episode with onset during pregnancy or within the postpartum year, diagnosed under DSM-5-TR criteria; the peripartum-onset specifier covers pregnancy and the first four weeks after delivery. Prevalence estimates from systematic reviews cluster around 10 to 15 percent, and US surveillance (PRAMS) reports roughly 1 in 7 mothers. Bloch and colleagues (American Journal of Psychiatry, 2000) showed that simulated withdrawal of gonadal steroids provoked depressive symptoms in women with a history of postpartum depression but not in controls, supporting a differential sensitivity model. Screening uses the or the , and ACOG Committee Opinion 757 (2018) recommends screening during the perinatal period. The main controversy is how much of the risk is hormonal sensitivity versus psychosocial load, and how to weigh pharmacologic against psychological treatment.

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Sources

  • American Psychiatric Association — Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR, 2022)
  • Bloch M et al. — Effects of gonadal steroids in women with a history of postpartum depression. American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

The Mothership Topic Wiki is general information for mothers and the people who care for them. It is not medical, legal, or mental-health advice and does not create a provider relationship. Experiences posted by members are their own. In an emergency call 911. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988.