Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is the experience of an extremely unhappy, anxious, and unmotivated state following the birth of a child. Often times the new mother is additionally distressed because as a result of the depression she is unable to “fall in love” with the baby until she is able to recover and this causes additional self-criticism about being a “bad parent” which accentuates the depression.

The onset of this depression seems to be precipitated by the changing hormonal balances in the woman’s body following the birth, and to the usual increased demands for parenting work required of a woman who has just undergone the very strenuous experience of giving birth. When a woman becomes this physically depressed, the chemistry of the brain is affected in such a way that she is unable to think clearly, reassure herself, or reason her way out of the depression.

The depression actually erodes her capacity to cope with the depression and the situation. Usually, a combination of medical intervention, therapy, reassurance and support will allow her to make a complete recovery, fall in love with the new baby, and return to a much happier state.