Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Postpartum Mood Disorders

HomeMy HealthChild and Family HealthPostpartum Mood Disorders
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
mother struggling with newborn baby

Up to 80% of people feel sad, empty or anxious after they have given birth. Whether it is baby blues or postpartum depression, feelings that continue over time or worsen you may be a postpartum mood disorder (PPMD). Southwestern Public Health offers help and support to promote mental wellness in those who may be experiencing PPMD

PPMD can happen to any family. It is not your fault. It is completely treatable and you are not alone.

Forms of postpartum mood disorder

Postpartum mood disorder can take many forms and can affect how you bond with your baby, affect your health, and create stress for family members. 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.

Baby blues

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 worsen or last longer than two weeks, you might have postpartum depression.

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
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
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.
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

Need more support?

Smiling baby and mom
Healthy Babies, Healthy Children Referral
Breastfeeding baby
Free Breastfeeding Support
Baby playing with toys
Other Child & Family Health Topics

Know & Grow logo  Call our Know & Grow Line

Speak to a Public Health Nurse to get the answers to all the questions you never knew you had.

  • In Oxford County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-421-9901 x 3473
  • In Elgin County, call the Know & Grow Line at 519-631-9900 x 1400
Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Child and Family Health
    Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
    • Breastfeeding
    • Child Safety
    • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
    • Parenting
      Toggle Section Parenting Menu
      • Babies 0-12 months
      • Toddlers 1-3 years
      • Preschoolers 3-5 years
    • Postpartum Mood Disorders
    • Preconception and Pregnancy
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Immunization and Vaccines
      Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
      • Immunization at Every Age
      • Immunization Exemptions
      • Immunization Records and Reporting
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Immunization Clinics
      • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Infectious Diseases
      Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
      • A-Z List of Infections
      • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
        Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
        • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
        • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers Menu
          • COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
        • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers Menu
          • COVID-19 FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
      • Influenza (Flu)
      • Preventing Infection
      • Tuberculosis
    • Food and Eating
      Toggle Section Food and Eating Menu
      • Food and Eating for Every Life Stage
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
      • Bike Safety
      • Child Safety
      • Concussions
      • Sun Safety
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • Mental Health and Addiction Support
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.