Postpartum Depression

Approximately 17% of post-partum people experience this mental health condition, a mood disorder causing sadness, anxiety, irritability, or other emotional struggles. It typically arises from a combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to parenthood, and fatigue. If you’ve been struggling for more than a couple weeks following childbirth, you may need a postpartum depression screening.
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Baby blues won’t go away? You may need an evaluation.

Can we be real for a sec? Having a baby is hard. Really hard. HARD HARD HARD. Sure, it comes with some of life’s highest highs, but it often comes with the lowest lows, too.

Aside from the sudden body change from being pregnant to not, a new parent must contend with sleeplessness, physical fatigue, insecurity, stress, grief, and less time for self-care.

Postpartum depression affects one in nine people, but because the “baby blues” are common after childbirth, parents don’t always get treatment as early as they should.

Unlike the “baby blues,” postpartum depression is a severe childbirth complication that can interfere with baby bonding and even progress into an extreme mood disorder, postpartum psychosis.

Even strong, well adjusted parents are vulnerable to postpartum depression. Being overwhelmed by a 7-pound ball of immobile cuteness doesn’t mean you are weak. It means you are human… and having a baby is HARD.

Bonmente’s qualified perinatal depression therapists  diagnose and treat pregnancy-triggered mental health problems to help you have a happier family life.


What causes postpartum depression?

There is no one single cause of perinatal mental health changes. Physical changes and emotional stress play a part, since major hormonal shifts, poor sleep, and identity changes are central to every childbirth experience. 

During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone are at their highest, only to drop back to pre-pregnancy levels within 24 hours after delivery. Thyroid hormones also drop after childbirth.

Risk factors increasing the likelihood of postpartum depression include:  

  • being under age 20
  • history of depression or bipolar disorder
  • an infant with health problems or special needs
  • multiple births
  • relationship issues with the other parent
  • a weak or absent support system
  • breast-feeding difficulties
  • financial strain
  • unwanted pregnancies. 

The parent who didn’t give birth can also experience postpartum depression, especially if they have any of the above risk factors. 

What are symptoms of postpartum depression?

Distinguishing between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression can be difficult. Time is a good indicator. If a couple weeks have passed and a new parent is experiencing the following symptoms, they should be evaluated (and re-evaluated for a year) for postpartum depression.

  • depressed mood
  • severe mood swings
  • struggling to bond with the baby
  • withdrawing from family and friends
  • experiencing major changes in appetite
  • extremes in sleep: either insomnia or oversleeping
  • intense hopelessness, guilt, irritability, or anger
  • difficulty concentrating, thinking clearly, or making decisions
  • anxiety-induced panic attacks
  • thoughts of self-harm or hurting the baby 

At its worst, postpartum depression can evolve into postpartum psychosis (PPP), which, though rare, is severe and dangerous.

Do I Have Postnatal Depression?

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a set of 10 screening questions that can indicate whether a parent has symptoms of depression that are common during pregnancy and in the year following the birth of a child.

PLEASE NOTE: This self-test is not a replacement for professional evaluation. If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, please call us at 310-360-7200 for an appointment.

Icon quote
Postpartum depression is hard to describe — the way the body and mind and spirit fracture and crumble in the wake of what most believe should be a celebratory time… I fear more often than not, for this reason alone, we choose silence.
– Bryce Dallas Howard

How is perinatal depression treated?

Untreated postpartum depression can interfere with parent-child bonding and cause issues for the whole family. For instance, children of mothers with untreated postpartum depression are more likely to have behavioral and emotional problems. Without treatment, it can last for months or more and may evolve into chronic depression.

Fortunately, mental health treatment can remedy perinatal depression. The treatment plan depends on the severity of the symptoms. 

Therapy can help new parents learn strategies for coping with the enormous lifestyle and identity changes that come with having a baby, improve communication skills, manage feelings, and set realistic goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are two evidence-based, demonstrably effective approaches.

Antidepressant medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can be integral in treatment. Antidepressant medications, most of which are safe to take while breastfeeding, target chemicals in the brain that control mood. Many take several weeks to work to their maximum effect, and some may work better than others. Bonmente’s mental health practitioners are experts in medication management, staying in contact with patients to adjust, replace, or even discontinue medication if or when necessary.If therapy and medications do not work, your bonmente provider may recommend brain stimulation therapies such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

It’s okay to need help.

If you’re feeling even an ounce of distress as a new parent, contact bonmente today and get the mental health support you deserve.
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