Postpartum Depression
What is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that may develop after a woman gives birth. Symptoms of Postpartum depression can interfere with a woman's ability to take care of herself and her baby.

Symptoms may include:
- Having feelings of sadness or emptiness
- Anxiety or worrying more than usual
- Having mood swings, becoming easily upset
- Feeling angry or acting enraged
- Feeling overwhelmed or hopeless
- Crying more than usual, and without obvious reason
- Over or under-eating
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Memory problems, forgetfulness
- Experiencing physical pain (headaches, muscular pain)
- Avoidance of family, friends or social contact with others
- Loss of interest in favorite hobbies or activities
- Difficulty bonding with or feeling attached to the baby
- Questioning ability to be a good mother
- Thoughts of self-harm or injuring the baby
More Information on Postpartum Depression
- Depression among Women of Reproductive Age - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Depression and Postpartum Depression: Resource Overview - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
- Postpartum Depression - Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
- A Review of Postpartum Depression - Christa Andrews-Fike, MD, PMC
- Postpartum Depression Brochure - American Psychological Association [PDF - 474 KB]
- Postpartum Depression Facts - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)