Postpartum Depression (PPD) is the leading complication of pregnancy and occurs in as many as one in 10 pregnant women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. PPD can occur from a few days up to 18 months after delivery.
PPD can be treated and prevented with timely screening and diagnosis.
New mothers experiencing depression say:
• I’m supposed to be happy….why do I feel so sad?
• I worry all the time.
• Why am I such a failure?
• Everything would be better if I got a good night’s sleep.
• Why can’t I snap out of it?
• I want to run away
Signs and symptoms of PPD include:
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Anxious
• Sad
• Guilty
• Irritable
• Hopeless
• Exhausted but can’t sleep
Complications of this major depressive disorder can lead to altered bonding, cognitive and developmental delays in the newborn that can persist into and through adolescence, negative effects on relationships with family and spouse/significant other that can lead to divorce, suicide, or infanticide.
If you feel that you may be experiencing PPD please call your doctor to discuss your treatment options. Early diagnosis and treatment is important.
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center offers a Postpartum Support Group on the 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. in the Hylton Education Center on the campus of Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, 2300 Opitz Blvd., Woodbridge, Va. 22191.
If you feel as though you are in immediate danger of harming yourself or your baby please reach out to a physician, go to the nearest emergency department or call 911.
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