THE SUMMER BLUES WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION Having a baby can be one of the happiest times in a woman’s life. It is a highly anticipated event that is planned months and sometimes even years ahead of time. Most of the time, mothers give birth and adjust to their new baby’s rhythms within a few months. Being tired and a little weepy or having some extra anxiety is normal after having a newborn. It is very common for women to experience the baby blues during this period. These feelings typically subside within a week or two. . There is, however, a more serious form of depression that goes beyond the baby blues, and it affects millions of women annually. The American Psychological Association, estimates that up to 1 in 7 women will experience postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is when a woman feels down for more than two weeks. The symptoms of depression often include excessive crying spells, feelings of hopelessness, loss of appetite, and lack of interest in her usual activities. The stigma that surrounds postpartum depression is still pervasive, even though it is well known that depression is not something that someone brings upon themselves. Who would choose to feel like they don’t want to get out of bed? Women often feel like it is their fault that they don’t feel 100%, and this is especially prevalent among new mothers who wonder why they feel so awful when they are supposed to be elated because they just had a baby.
12 | SO BEAUTIFUL BABY
