It’s common for women to experience sadness or anxiety right after giving birth, but those feelings usually subside quickly. If they linger, you may be experiencing postpartum depression or PPD.
As many as one out of every seven mothers are affected by postpartum depression. The signs and symptoms can differ from person to person, but watch out for these possible red flags:
You aren’t alone. Postpartum depression can affect any mother, even those who have not experienced depression before. Many stigmas once associated with postpartum depression are now disappearing as it is discussed more openly. Even celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Courteney Cox and Brooke Shields have had postpartum depression.
If you think you might have postpartum depression, talk to your primary care provider.