Recognizing and Overcoming Postpartum Depression

Having a baby is a life-changing experience filled with emotion. It can bring great joy, fulfillment, and a sense of purpose, but also feelings of sadness, irritability, self-doubt, inadequacy, and exhaustion. When the negative feelings begin to outweigh the positives, a new parent might be experiencing postpartum depression. This medical condition, sometimes called PPD, involves feelings of sadness, anxiety, and overwhelm. Some feelings like this are normal as a woman’s hormones regulate after giving birth, but if symptoms last longer than two weeks, you may have postpartum depression.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 50% to 80% of all people who deliver a child experience some form of mood shifts sometimes referred to as “the baby blues”—and 1 in 8 will develop a serious case of PPD. The disorder is not just a problem for new moms; approximately 10% of new fathers experience symptoms of depression during the postpartum period. However, some health care providers believe that PPD could be at least twice as common as what is actually reported and diagnosed.

We know that one of the best ways to set babies up for lifelong health is to support their parents.

Erica Shoemaker, MD

"We know that one of the best ways to set babies up for lifelong health is to support their parents,” says Erica Shoemaker, MD, psychiatrist in the Behavioral Health Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “By helping and treating parents of newborns who are stressed, we can promote healthy relationships, social-emotional health, and development in their babies throughout their life. Treatment of anxiety and depression in new parents helps prevent developmental problems and social emotional problems in their children.”

Symptoms of postpartum depression

Common signs of PPD include:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Appetite changes
• Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, anxiety, irritability, inadequacy as a parent
• Having a hard time feeling connected to your baby
• Overwhelming thoughts about your baby’s safety
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Difficulty concentrating

What to do if you have postpartum depression

If you think you are experiencing PPD:

• Call your obstetrician, talk to your baby’s pediatrician, or reach out to a mental health care provider (e.g., marriage and family therapist, psychologist, or licensed clinical social worker)
• Ask about local support groups for PPD
• Call the anonymous Postpartum Support International warmline at 1-800-944-4773
• Visit postpartum.net for more resources

"Depression and anxiety in new parents is common. For some, these problems make it hard for them to enjoy their baby and to form a close bond with them,” says Dr. Shoemaker. “For others, anxiety and depression can make it hard for them to care for their baby's basic needs, like feeding, changing, and being held. In rare and severe cases, postpartum depression can cause a parent to feel that they don't want to go on living, or even to have paranoid delusions and thoughts of harming their baby. This is an emergency that requires a call to 911 or a visit to the emergency room. The good news is that new parents recover beautifully with treatment. Talk therapy, and sometimes medications, really lead to recovery. Once they feel better, new mothers and fathers are able to rise to the challenge of caring for their baby and becoming loving, responsive, and confident parents."

Tips to help with PPD

When in doubt, you should seek professional help. You can also follow these tips:

• Try for four to five hours of uninterrupted sleep at night. Sleep deprivation makes it hard to stay calm, optimistic, and organized. Good sleep is a powerful antidepressant and anti-anxiety intervention. Though it’s a challenge with a new baby and nighttime feedings, see if caregivers can share the feedings at night so that each gets a block of uninterrupted sleep. During the day, try to nap when your baby does.
• Ask for help with tasks and child care, or accept help when it is offered. When you are feeling overwhelmed and tired, do not try to deal with the stress alone.
• Eat a balanced diet. Nutrients are essential for proper body and brain function. If you are able, try healthy meal planning, purchase easy-to-prepare whole foods, or ask friends and family to prepare nutritious meals for you.
• Connect with other people. Talking about your feelings with others can help reduce depressive symptoms. Joining a parent and child group or parent support group can be helpful.
• Be kind to yourself. During this time of transition and change, don’t do too much or compare yourself to others. Simply do whatever works for you and your family.
• Get gentle exercise. Exercise increases endorphins that send “feel-good” signals to your brain. Taking the baby out for a walk in the stroller or baby carrier is a great way to be active, breathe fresh air, and soothe not only yourself but also your baby.

The Stein Tikun Olam Early Connections Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is screening children under age 3 for issues that can lead to developmental and behavioral challenges—and that includes anxiety and depression among parents, which can negatively impact a parent and child’s bonding.

“Taking care of parents is just another way to help take care of their children,” says Dr. Shoemaker.

Raising a happy and healthy baby starts with happy and healthy parents. If you, your parenting partner, or someone you know is experiencing the effects of postpartum depression, your health care providers can help. With proper support, it is possible to manage and overcome PPD so that both parent and child can bond and flourish.