Up to 80% of people feel sad, empty or anxious after they have given birth. If these feelings continue or worsen, you may be experiencing a postpartum mood disorder (PPMD). PPMD can affect how you bond with your baby. It can affect your health and create stress for family members.
PPMD can happen to any family. It is not your fault. It is completely treatable and you are not alone.
Forms of postpartum mood disorders
The baby blues is the most common form of PPMD. It includes feeling emotional, tearful, fatigued and overwhelmed. In most cases, symptoms disappear within two weeks. Talking to friends or family, getting more support and making time to rest seem to help.
If your symptoms get worse and last longer than two weeks, you might have postpartum depression. Postpartum depression includes at least five of the following symptoms in addition to feeling depressed:
- Sad or irritable mood
- Loss of interest/pleasure in activities
- Feeling overwhelmed or anxious
- Feeling hopeless
- Feeling ‘out of control’
- Reduced or increased appetite or weight
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping all the time
- Tiredness or loss of energy
- Feeling low self-esteem or excessive guilt (e.g., feeling like a bad mother or having trouble forming a bond with your baby)
- Unable to concentrate or make a decision
- Thoughts of death and/or suicide
- Fear you might harm your baby
Postpartum anxiety includes feeling worry, nervousness or unease, often about an unknown outcome. Symptoms of anxiety can get worse over time. They include irrational fear you find hard to control, panic attacks, feeling distracted, avoidance and physical symptoms.
Postpartum psychosis is rare. It most often happens within 48-72 hours after giving birth but can happen up to 4 months after. Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
Learn more about PPMD in the ‘life with a new baby is not always what you expect’ brochure from Best Start, or from Postpartum Support International.
Postpartum depression in men
Men can also experience mental stress during their partner’s pregnancy or after the baby is born. For the most part, symptoms of postpartum depression in men are the same as the symptoms in women. Learn more from PostpartumMen.
Find PPMD support
You can contact us for PPMD support or connect with one of these other resources:
- Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Thames Valley Addiction and Mental Health Services
- Reach Out 24/7 1-866-933-2023
- Woodstock General Hospital – Mental Health 519-421-4223 x2377
- St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital – Mental Health 519-631-2030
- Elgin PPMD Support Group (For parents who are pregnant or under 18 months postpartum weekly drop in groups run on and off throughout the year. Please call 51-631-9900 ext 1400 to speak with a public health nurse about available supports.)
Help someone with PPMD
If someone you know has a postpartum mood disorder, you can support them. Encourage them to speak with their health care provider. You can also:
- Listen
- Learn about PPMD and available supports
- Be patient, loving and supportive
- Support decisions to seek professional help
- Share household tasks
- Spend some time playing with the baby
- Reassure them they are a good parent
- In an emergency, call 911 immediately