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 AgeExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• Depression and Postpartum Depression: Resource OverviewExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• Postpartum DepressionExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - Medline Plus, U.S. National Library of Medicine
• A Review of Postpartum DepressionExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - Christa Andrews-Fike, MD, PMC
• Postpartum Depression BrochureExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - American Psychological Association [PDF - 474 KB]
• Postpartum Depression FactsExit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  - National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)