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It's natural to feel strong emotions when you're pregnant and just after you've had a baby. You may feel elated, or you may feel sad. Many women have the "baby blues" just after birth. They feel sad, impatient, or irritable. These feelings usually go away in a week or two. They don't always need to be treated by a doctor. For some women, feelings of sadness are much more intense. These intense feelings are called postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can be treated with medication and counseling.
This assessment asks you questions to help you figure out your risk for postpartum depression.
Your Results
You have of the 4 risk factors for postpartum depression (PPD). This doesn't mean you definitely will develop PPD after you have your baby. It means that you may be more likely to. You should talk this over with your doctor. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing PPD after your baby is born. Even if you develop PPD, it can be treated.
You have of the 13 symptoms that may mean you have postpartum depression (PPD). You should talk this over with your doctor. The more symptoms you checked, the more likely it is that you have PPD. If your doctor says you have PPD, he or she will help you get the treatment that is best for you.
You have of the 13 symptoms that may mean you have postpartum depression (PPD). Because you are worried about hurting yourself or your baby, you should see your doctor right away. This is an emergency. Other statements you checked may also mean you have postpartum depression. The more symptoms you have, the more likely it is that you have PPD. If your doctor says you have PPD, he or she will help you get the treatment that is best for you.
You have not indicated that you have risk factors or symptoms of postpartum depression. Based on this information, you are not likely to develop, or likely to have postpartum depression. This is not an absolute guarantee; if you are worried that you might have postpartum depression, talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns.
Risk Factors
You are more likely to develop PPD if you had it with a past pregnancy or if a family member has depression or another mood disorder. You are also more likely to develop PPD if you have depression; if you get severe premenstrual syndrome; if your personal life is stressful; and if you have few friends or family members to help you after the birth of your child.
If you are at risk for PPD, talk to your health care provider before your baby is born and find out how you can identify PPD early and get help. Mild PPD can be eased by talking with a mental health professional and getting family support. Moderate to severe PPD usually requires both counseling and medication.
Your New Baby
Caring for a newborn can be stressful. Here are suggestions to help you cope:
- Try to nap when the baby naps.
- Don't try to do everything yourself. Ask your husband, partner, a friend or family member for help with household chores and other tasks.
- Share your feelings with your husband, partner, a friend or family member.
- If possible, get out of the house every day for a short walk or to run an errand.
- Talk to other mothers. Find out how they managed this challenging time.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional healthcare. Always consult with a healthcare provider for advice concerning your health or your baby's. Only your health care provider can determine if you have postpartum depression. This assessment is based in part on information provided at the 4woman.gov website .
References for Postpartum Depression
- Zelkowitz P, Milet TH. Screening for post-partum depression in a community sample . Can J Psychiatry . 1995 Mar; 40(2):80-86.
- Lawrie TA, Hofmeyr GJ, de Jager M, Berk M. Validation of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale on a cohort of South African women. S Afr Med J. 1998 Oct; 88(10): 1340-1344.
- Poustie A, Drumm E. Co-ordinated care for women with postnatal depression . Nursing Standard . 1997 Jan;11(16):34-37.
- Lee DT, Yip SK, Chiu HF, Leung TY, et al. Detecting postnatal depression in Chinese women: Validation of the Chinese version of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Br J Psychiatry . 1998 May; 172:433-437.
- Benvenuti P, Ferrara M, Niccolai C, Valoriani V, et al. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale: Validation for an Italian sample. J Affect Disord . 1999 May; 53(2):137-141.
- Evins G, Theofrastous J, Galvin S. Postpartum depression: A comparison of screening and routing clinical evaluation. Am J Obstet Grynecol . 2000 May;182(5). Accessed on the World Wide Web.
- National Mental Health Association. Recognizing Postpartum Depression . 2003.
- Gabbe S, Niebyl J, Simpson J. Obstetrics, Normal and Problem Pregnancies . 4 th ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone Inc.; 2000:717.