Q: How can you prevent PPD?

To prevent postpartum depression (PPD), it&#39;s important to have a strong support system in place throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. Though it&#39;s impossible to predict how a woman&#39;s body will be affected by childbirth, educating yourself on the symptoms, and paying close attention to your body is essential. It&#39;s also important to make sure your body is properly nourished throughout your pregnancy, so you&#39;re getting the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep both you and your baby healthy. If you can, join a support group for new mothers, so you can get support from others who know what you&#39;re going through. Create open lines of communication with your partner and family, so you can ask for help if you need it. And even though you may feel guilty about spending time away from your baby, it&#39;s absolutely essential to carve out some time for sleep, exercise, and self-care, even if that means a quick 15 minutes to enjoy a bubble bath, a cup of tea, or a meditation session. Mothers work hard and definitely need a break now and then to maintain physical and mental health. <h2>Concerned you might be depressed?</h2>Take our <a href="https://meetmonarch.com/quizzes/am-i-depressed" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online depression quiz</a> to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It&#39;s free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Q: What do you do for postpartum?

To treat postpartum depression, it&#39;s essential to talk to your primary care provider or a mental health professional, as opposed to simply &quot;waiting out&quot; your feelings. A doctor can monitor your symptoms, give you a diagnosis, provide you with a safe place to talk about your feelings, and help you find a treatment plan that works to alleviate your symptoms. For some mothers, a weekly therapy session can help them work through their feelings, solve problems, and learn to cope with stress and anxiety. For other mothers, antidepressants or other medication may be a great option. Though any medication you take while breastfeeding will enter your breast milk, there are many antidepressants that are safe for both moms and newborns. Even after you begin to feel better, continuing treatment can help to prevent PPD from becoming chronic depression or anxiety. If you think that you may be at risk for developing postpartum depression, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have before giving birth. This way, both you and your doctor can prepare yourselves and keep a close eye on any symptoms that may develop.

Question 1

What is postpartum depression?

Accepted Answer

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that can sometimes occur in mothers within a few weeks of giving birth. Symptoms are often complex and can present both physically and mentally, and can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. It's important to be on the lookout for symptoms of PPD in every new mother.

Here are some of the most common symptoms of PPD:

Intense feelings of sadness or emptiness
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or hopelessness
Fatigue or abnormal decrease in energy
Abnormal weight loss or gain
Inability to concentrate, make decisions, or remembering things
Trouble bonding with your baby
Aches or pains that don't seem to have a cause
Difficulty sleeping
Doubts about your ability to care for your child
Thoughts of hurting yourself or your child

While mood swings, sadness, and empty feelings are common within the first few days or weeks after giving birth (this is often known as "baby blues"), if these symptoms persist or get in the way of you caring for yourself or your newborn, they often indicate PPD.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Question 2

How common is postpartum?

Accepted Answer

Postpartum depression (PPD) symptoms occur in somewhere around 20% of women, with these symptoms varying in severity. The majority of women may feel mood swings, anxiety, and sadness after the birth of their child, but these feelings may not be enough to get a PPD diagnosis. It is thought that PPD is often under-diagnosed because women feel that there is shame and stigma surrounding this condition.

It's important to remember that if you're feeling symptoms of PPD, you aren't alone. There are many women who have been in their situation and have recovered. PPD doesn't make you a bad mother, it doesn't make you "crazy," and no doctor will judge you for talking about your symptoms and seeking treatment. Getting help is the best thing that you can do for yourself and your child.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Question 3

How can you prevent PPD?

Accepted Answer

To prevent postpartum depression (PPD), it's important to have a strong support system in place throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. Though it's impossible to predict how a woman's body will be affected by childbirth, educating yourself on the symptoms, and paying close attention to your body is essential. It's also important to make sure your body is properly nourished throughout your pregnancy, so you're getting the necessary vitamins and minerals to keep both you and your baby healthy.

If you can, join a support group for new mothers, so you can get support from others who know what you're going through. Create open lines of communication with your partner and family, so you can ask for help if you need it.

And even though you may feel guilty about spending time away from your baby, it's absolutely essential to carve out some time for sleep, exercise, and self-care, even if that means a quick 15 minutes to enjoy a bubble bath, a cup of tea, or a meditation session. Mothers work hard and definitely need a break now and then to maintain physical and mental health.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Question 4

What do you do for postpartum?

Accepted Answer

To treat postpartum depression, it's essential to talk to your primary care provider or a mental health professional, as opposed to simply "waiting out" your feelings.

A doctor can monitor your symptoms, give you a diagnosis, provide you with a safe place to talk about your feelings, and help you find a treatment plan that works to alleviate your symptoms. For some mothers, a weekly therapy session can help them work through their feelings, solve problems, and learn to cope with stress and anxiety.

For other mothers, antidepressants or other medication may be a great option. Though any medication you take while breastfeeding will enter your breast milk, there are many antidepressants that are safe for both moms and newborns. Even after you begin to feel better, continuing treatment can help to prevent PPD from becoming chronic depression or anxiety.

If you think that you may be at risk for developing postpartum depression, talk to your doctor about any concerns you have before giving birth. This way, both you and your doctor can prepare yourselves and keep a close eye on any symptoms that may develop.

Question 5

How long do you have postpartum?

Accepted Answer

The length of time someone has postpartum depression (PPD) depends on a few different factors. Typically, the symptoms of PPD appear within the first few weeks after giving birth, but sometimes PPD symptoms can appear up to a year after giving birth, so don't ignore your symptoms if they don't fall within the typical postpartum period. No matter when your symptoms start, they are valid and real and should be brought to the attention of a medical professional.

While there's no set length for how long postpartum depression lasts, some research suggests that symptoms will start to improve within three to six months after they first appear. However, symptoms can persist long after that period, and every woman is different. Seeking treatment is the best way to find relief from PPD symptoms.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Question 6

What are the causes of postpartum?

Accepted Answer

The causes of postpartum depression (PPD) are complex, and are not yet fully understood by doctors. However, it's a real medical condition, and women should remember that PPD is never their fault, and it's highly treatable with the right intervention.

Some research suggests that PPD is caused by a combination of both genetic and environmental factors, including past trauma, life stress, hormones, and the physical and mental demands of caring for a newborn baby.

Women may be at a greater risk for PPD if they've been diagnosed with a mental health condition like anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder in the past, or if they have a family history of these conditions. In addition, if you've experienced postpartum depression during previous pregnancies, there's a greater chance of developing it again.

In some cases, though, it's unclear why a woman develops PPD, which can make it even more confusing and difficult. However, it's important to remember that recovery is possible.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

What is postpartum depression?

Concerned you might be depressed?

Related questions about postpartum depression

Life is complicated. Finding a therapist shouldn’t be.

Newsletter signup

Get inspiration straight to your inbox.