5 Things Every Woman Should Know About Postpartum Depression

It can be terribly upsetting if you don’t feel the joy you had expected when holding your new baby. But, if you’re struggling with symptoms of postpartum depression (PPD), you’re not alone.

At Trusted Women’s Health Center in Kendall and Miami, Florida, our caring OB/GYN Sidiq Aldabbagh, MD, and supportive team are passionate about educating, supporting, and guiding our patients through dark and difficult times so they can finally have the motherhood experience they had always expected.

This month’s blog focuses on postpartum depression and making important information about it more accessible. Here are five things every woman should know about PPD. 

It’s not the baby blues

The “baby blues” refers to symptoms like weepiness, irritability, sadness, and anxiety that often start four or five days after the baby’s birth. It’s a very normal experience according to the American Pregnancy Association, as 70- 80% of women experience these issues shortly after giving birth.

While it’s certainly frustrating and uncomfortable, the baby blues go away within about 14 days. Postpartum depression is different. It tends to get worse, not better, and the symptoms last much longer than a couple of weeks.

Postpartum depression is common

While it’s not as common as the baby blues, current statistics show that about one in seven women have PPD. And, it’s actually more common than statistics show.

About half of women struggling with postpartum depression symptoms are never diagnosed because they’re worried about being judged, abandoned, or unsupported.

It can start during or after pregnancy

Postpartum depression isn’t limited to a short window of time after birth. Many women actually develop PPD while they’re still pregnant and don’t even realize it. 

And, some women don’t have any postpartum depression symptoms until months after having their baby, or even a full year after giving birth. 

You can’t just ‘snap out of it’

One of the biggest misconceptions about depression in general is that people who are struggling should just decide to “snap out of it”. If only it was really that easy. 

Snapping out of it isn’t an option when you have postpartum depression because it’s a genuine condition that affects the way the brain functions. In fact, studies of mothers with PPD have shown clear changes in their neural brain connections. That’s why you need treatment for PPD: to restore those parts of the brain that aren’t functioning optimally.

There are brand new treatment options

There are many types of support for postpartum depression. At Trusted Women’s Health Center, we provide judgment-free empathetic support for our patients with postpartum depression. We’re here to design a treatment plan that helps you find the path forward so you can enjoy motherhood and life. 

Traditionally, antidepressants and psychotherapy have been quite helpful for women struggling with PPD. 

And, a new treatment option is now available. Zulresso® is the first oral medication that’s FDA approved specifically for postpartum depression. It was already available as an infusion, with remarkably rapid results. With its new availability as an oral medication, fast PPD symptom relief is available to more women than ever before.

Dr. Aldabbagh and our team are glad to talk about your feelings, needs, and goals for treatment so we can work hand-in-hand with you as you leave postpartum depression behind. Reach out to our office by phone or book an appointment online today.