Up to 20 percent of new mothers may experience postpartum depression in the months after giving birth.

Postpartum depression is a serious mental health condition that can occur in the weeks and months following the birth of a child.

The condition usually occurs in mothers, but it’s also been documented in fathers of newborns.
The Baby Blues

It’s normal to feel sad or fatigued after the birth of a child, a condition that’s commonly referred to as “the baby blues.”

In fact, by some estimates, up to 85 percent of moms feel some degree of sadness after their baby is born.

Like postpartum depression, the baby blues may include bouts of crying, mood swings, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed.

But while the baby blues rarely last beyond a week or two, postpartum depression symptoms can persist for months.

“If symptoms go beyond a two-week period, and the mother is still experiencing problems, that will usually lead to a diagnosis of postpartum depression,” says Diane Young, MD, staff physician in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the Cleveland Clinic.

Prevalence

Estimates vary, but 7 to 20 percent of women are believed to have postpartum depression at some point in the year after giving birth.

The risk of postpartum depression is higher among people who have a history of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

Postpartum depression is generally believed to affect more women than men, but new fathers are also at risk.

A 2011 study published in the journal Pediatrics put the number of new fathers with postpartum depression at 7 percent.

After looking at more than 1,700 dads with 1-year-olds, the researchers also found that depression had a negative effect on parenting — depressed dads were more likely to spank their children and less likely to read to them.

Risk Factors

Any parent can develop postpartum depression, but the following factors increase your risk:

• Personal or family history of depression, anxiety, or another mental illness
• Previous postpartum depression
• History of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
• Sleep deprivation
• Chronic pain
• History of fertility treatments or miscarriage
• Abrupt discontinuation of breastfeeding
• History of trauma or abuse
• Traumatic or disappointing birthing experience
• Poor support system
• Stresses (such as marital or financial)
• Substance abuse