Most women are familiar with the “Baby Blues,” which may affect as many as 80% of new mothers.  This mood change in new mothers is a normal reaction to the difficult transition into parenthood and the period of time it takes hormones to regulate themselves again.  It usually appears within a week of giving childbirth and will subside on its own within about three weeks. 

What many may not realize is that Postpartum Depression (PPD) may look similar to the “Baby Blues” that most mothers go through, but it does not tend to go away without receiving proper attention from mental health professionals or support groups.  

Symptoms that may indicate Postpartum Depression include:

• Excessive worry
• Difficulty making decisions and feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling like you can't "think straight"
• Sleep difficulties, whether sleeping too much or too little
• Feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness, phobias
• Physical symptoms or complaints without apparent cause
• Discomfort or detachment around the baby
• Changes in appetite
• Loss of interest or pleasure

As many as 20% of new mothers will deal with Postpartum Depression.  Risk factors for this form of depression may include conflicted pregnancies (unwanted or unplanned pregnancies), emotional sensitization (history of mood disorders, post-infertility pregnancy), complicated pregnancies (eating disorders, illness, substance abuse, poor SES conditions), and relationship problems.

What has traditionally been labeled under the umbrella of Postpartum Depression may actually be one of several different Postpartum Adjustment Disorders, such as Postpartum Anxiety and Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  

Symptoms that may indicate Postpartum Obsessive Compulsive Disorder include:

• Intrusive, repetitive, persistent thoughts
• Thoughts of hurting or killing the baby (these thoughts are not acted upon)
• Tremendous sense of horror and disgust of these thoughts often accompanied by avoidance behaviors in order to cope (hiding knives, for example)
• Repetitive behaviors, such as counting or cleaning

Other disorders new moms may face that may be less common are Postpartum (PP) Panic Disorder, PP Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and PP Psychosis.  PP Psychosis is a life-threatening condition that needs immediate medical care.  

Postpartum Depression is an especially difficult condition to deal with because it comes at a time that is usually idealized by expecting mothers, who look forward to being the perfect mom for the perfect baby.  Because of the special emphasis the Church places on the sacred role of motherhood, Postpartum Depression may strike LDS mothers as especially hard to deal with.  They may experience a great deal of guilt about the fact that they do not feel close to their baby, or are not attending to the baby as well as they wanted to.  However, new mothers should realize that they are not alone in experiencing these feelings or thoughts, and that help is available for dealing with these unexpected emotions.  Tom Baxter, special assistant to the director of LDS Social Services, says that “Church members sometimes feel that if only they had lived the gospel better, these [mental illness] problems would not exist.  We now know that mental illnesses have multiple causes, including genetic and biological factors—factors we usually cannot control.”

While mothers may have some control over a few of the risk factors mentioned above, they do not choose Postpartum Depression or its accompanying symptoms.  However, new mothers and fathers may choose to get the help needed to treat the condition.  Husbands can be a vital support system and asset for healing from PPD, and, when possible, should be involved in treatment.  If you think you may be dealing with this condition, contact a mental health provider for counseling.