Postpartum Adjustment and Depression
After you give birth you may feel tired and overwhelmed by the huge task of caring for your baby. Your hormone levels have also gone through some major changes. For a few days or weeks you may have the "baby blues," which can include feelings of sadness, mood swings, anger, anxiety and low self-esteem. The baby blues are very common and will pass in time. Your doctor can suggest some ways to help you feel better. You will receive a phone call from a mother-baby nurse a few days after you go home. This would be an ideal time to discuss your concerns.
Postpartum depression occurs in approximately 1 in 10 new mothers sometime in the first year following childbirth. The symptoms are severe and can include feelings of hopelessness, high anxiety, eating problems, feeling out of control and thoughts of harming yourself or the baby. This is not a sign of weakness and is not something you can just "snap out of" but it can be treated. Our Department of Psychiatry - Outpatient offers a full set of outpatient services for the treatment of postpartum depression, including physician services, group and individual therapy and medication management.
Information regarding peer services can be found at The Post Partum Resource Center of New York.
If you are concerned about postpartum depression, have questions or would like to talk to someone about the condition, please speak to your health care provider or call the Department of Psychiatry - Outpatient at (516) 562-3358.