Also called: Also called: Baby blues
Many new moms feel happy one minute and sad the next. If you feel better after a week or so, you probably just had the "baby blues." If it takes you longer to feel better, you may have postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression can make you feel restless, anxious, fatigued and worthless. Some new moms worry they will hurt themselves or their babies. Unlike the "baby blues," postpartum depression does not go away quickly. Very rarely, new moms develop something even more serious. They may stop eating, have trouble sleeping and become frantic or paranoid. Women with this condition usually need to be hospitalized.
Researchers think that changes in your hormone levels during and after pregnancy may lead to postpartum depression. If you think you have it, tell your health care provider. Medicine and talk therapy can help you get well.
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Depression during and After Pregnancy(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/faq/postpartum.htm
Also available in Spanish http://womenshealth.gov/espanol/preguntas/postpartum.htm
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Postpartum Depression and the "Baby Blues"(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/ppd/general/379.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/pregnancy/ppd/general/379.printerview.html
- Postpartum Depression(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/postpartum-depression/DS00546/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all
- Postpartum Disorders(Mental Health America) - http://www.nmha.org/go/information/get-info/depression/postpartum-disorders
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Understanding Postpartum Depression: Common but Treatable
(National Institutes of Health) - http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2005/December2005/docs/01features_02.htm
- Natural Childbirth Moms More Attuned to Babies' Cry(09/11/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69189.html
- 3 Questions Can Spot Possible Postpartum Depression(09/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68808.html
- Possible Cause of Postpartum Depression Pinpointed(07/30/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_67565.html
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How to Find Help through Psychotherapy(American Psychological Association) - http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=52
Also available in Spanish http://www.centrodeapoyoapa.org/articulos/articulo.php?id=52
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MedlinePlus: Antidepressants(National Library of Medicine) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/antidepressants.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/antidepressants.html
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Postpartum Depression Action Plan(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/women/pregnancy/ppd/general/871.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/women/pregnancy/ppd/general/871.printerview.html
- Ten Rules for Coping with Panic(Postpartum Support International) - http://postpartum.net/resources/women-mothers/panic/
- Tips on Healthy Parenting for Mothers with Depression(Mental Health America) - Links to PDF - http://www1.nmha.org/infoctr/factsheets/HealthyParentingTips.pdf
- Postpartum Thyroid Information(Postpartum Support International) - http://postpartum.net/resources/women-mothers/thyroid/
- Tips for Postpartum Partners(Postpartum Support International) - http://postpartum.net/resources/families-partners/tips-for-postpartum-partners/
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Depression, Postpartum(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Depression,+Postpartum%22
- Article: Treatment of postpartum psychosis: challenges and opportunities. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18690984&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Management of postnatal depression. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18689433&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Understanding the pathophysiology of postpartum depression: implications for the development... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18667144&tool=MedlinePlus
- Postpartum Depression -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=depression,postpartum[majr]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+english[la]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Glossary of Depression-Related Terms(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/depression/hic_glossary_of_depression-related_terms.aspx
- Mental Health Services Locator(Center for Mental Health Services) - http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases/
- Mental Health America - http://www.nmha.org/
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National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
- Depression - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/depression.html
- Mental Health and Behavior - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mentalhealthandbehavior.html
- Pregnancy and Reproduction - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/pregnancyandreproduction.html
- Women - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/women.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Postpartum Depression is the National Institute of Mental Health - http://www.nimh.nih.gov/
Postpartum Depression - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/postpartumdepression.html