Most women get back to normal by the time their baby is 6 months old.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Cooper PJ, Murray L, Stein A.
Postnatal depression.
In: Seva A (editor). European Handbook of Psychiatry and Mental Health. Anthropos, Barcelona; 1991.

 

 

 

 

 

¹ But about 1 in 4 women are still depressed by the time their baby is 1 year old. And some women still have problems three years after that.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Kumar R, Robson KM.
A prospective study of emotional disorders in childbearing women.
British Journal of Psychiatry. 1984; 144: 35-47.

 

 

 

 

 

²

If this is the first time you've been depressed, you are more likely to get better quickly than if you've had depression before.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Cooper PJ, Murray L.
Course and recurrence of postnatal depression: evidence for the specificity of the diagnostic concept.
British Journal of Psychiatry. 1995; 166: 191-195.

 

 

 

 

 

³

Postpartum depression usually goes away on its own. But if your doctor thinks you have it, he or she may suggest treatments. The main ones are antidepressant drugs and talking treatments (

 

 

 

 

 

psychotherapy
Psychotherapy is a talking treatment. It is given by trained therapists (such as a psychiatrists, psychologists or social workers). Psychotherapy usually consists of regular sessions (often weekly) between the therapist and the patient. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

 

 

 

 

 

psychotherapy). They may help you feel better faster.

You may not want to take drugs for postpartum depression, especially if you are breastfeeding your baby. But talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits. Bad depression that goes on for a long time can harm your baby and your partner as well as yourself.

If you have postpartum depression, it may lead to:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Kumar R, Robson KM.
A prospective study of emotional disorders in childbearing women.
British Journal of Psychiatry. 1984; 144: 35-47.

 

 

 

 

 

²

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Ballard CG, Davis R, Cullen PC, et al.
Prevalence of postnatal psychiatric morbidity in mothers and fathers.
British Journal of Psychiatry. 1994; 164: 782-788.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
Why mothers die 1997-1999: The fifth report of the Confidential Enquiries into maternal deaths in the United Kingdom.
December 2001. Available at http://www.cemach.org.uk (accessed on 2 March 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

⁵

For more about how the illness can affect your relationship with your baby and your baby's development, see Postpartum depression and your baby.

Treatment for your postpartum depression can improve your relationship with your baby. It may also help your baby's development.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Poobalan AS.
Effects of treating postnatal depression on mother-infant interaction and child development: Systematic review.
British Journal of Psychiatry. 2007; 191: 378-386.

 

 

 

 

 

⁶

If you have postpartum depression, there is a chance you will get it again in a later pregnancy. If you get this postpartum depression diagnosed, your doctor will know to watch for it next time.

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