How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last?

Pregnancy is a challenging experience for any woman, and its repercussions can be felt by them long after childbirth. Many women experience mood swings, tearfulness and anxiety after childbirth, commonly termed postpartum or postnatal depression. It is a very severe condition; therefore, for women experiencing postpartum depression, the question of How Long Postpartum Depression Last becomes of prime importance.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum depression, or PPD, is a type of clinical depression that a mother experiences after childbirth. The exact causes of PPD are unknown, and just like any other kind of depression, it can occur for various reasons. During childbirth, a woman faces common causes of clinical depression, such as significant life changes, extreme stress and biological changes in the body. There are, however, some factors that increase the risk of postpartum depression -

• Pre-pregnancy or post-pregnancy depression

• Mental illness in the family

• Stressful pregnancy

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• Lack of love and care from close ones

• History of bipolar disorder

• Pre-mature delivery of the baby

• Usage of alcohol and drugs

What are the symptoms of Postpartum Depression?

Based on the severity of symptoms, one can say someone has postpartum depression how long does it last for them? According to the data from the National Institute of Mental Health, symptoms of postpartum depression are -

• A feeling of sadness and anxiety

• Crying untimely

• A feeling of restlessness and anger

• Overeating

• Irregular sleep or facing difficulty in sleeping

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• Headaches and body aches without any apparent reason

• Refraining from activities that one seems to enjoy earlier, i.e. social isolation

• Negative thoughts of harming oneself and the baby

• Constant feelings of guilt and worthlessness

• Problems faced while focusing on work and in decision making

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• Facing difficulty while taking care of the baby and the family.

• Hallucinations

• A visible change in weight

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When does Postpartum Depression typically start?

Postpartum depression, or PPD, starts soon after childbirth, and most women do not even realise it until the end of baby blues. Baby blues is the sudden sadness every woman experiences in the first few weeks of childbirth. This occurs in 4 out of 5 new mothers.

The first four to six weeks of childbirth are postpartum, and during this, one may experience PPD. However, in some cases, PPD can also start during pregnancy or one year after the baby's birth. So if one feels off after their postpartum period ends, that can be a sign of PPD.

How long can Postpartum Depression last?

Postpartum depression is different for every woman, and researchers have found that its symptoms vary from woman to woman. PPD can appear in women between two weeks from birth to 12 months after childbirth.

A study in 2014 indicates that PPD symptoms improve in women over time, and it gets resolved within three to six weeks of appearance. However, some women in this study are experiencing symptoms of PPD even after crossing six months.

Thirty to fifty per cent of women reported that they experienced PPD after one year of childbirth. In contrast, little less than half reported that they experienced depressive symptoms even after three years of postpartum. Thus, one can never say for sure how long postpartum depression last in women.

How can Postpartum Depression affect your life?

Postpartum depression seriously affects a woman’s personal and professional life. A woman can feel isolated, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states that when one partner develops PPD, the other is likely to follow. One can also become distant from their family and friends because they would not be acting like themselves. And unfortunately, it can also affect the relationship between mother and child.

When is the right time to visit the doctor?

One should visit a doctor if they experience any signs of sadness and other symptoms of PPD after the baby blues. This is not necessarily bad news and one that one should hide but something they need to get diagnosed with as soon as possible. Moreover, one should never blame themselves for it and accept that it is normal to have PPD after childbirth and seek support for a speedy recovery.

This was all a woman needed to know about postpartum depression or PPD. Remember all these symptoms; when one experiences any of these, they need to consult healthcare professionals soon.

To find help for postpartum depression and care, you can check Mylo Postpartum Care Plan that takes care of the new mother's needs and holistic well-being. It can help you with postpartum depression and recovery, increased breast milk secretion, weight loss, improved gut health and constipation relief.

Know more about postpartum depression (FAQs)

1. Can you get postpartum depression after 2 months?

Ans. Yes, one can experience postpartum depression after 2 months of childbirth.

2. Can you get postpartum depression after 4 months?

Ans. Yes, one can experience postpartum depression after 4 months of childbirth because, due to hormonal changes in women, they can experience delayed postpartum depression.

3. Can postpartum depression last for years?

Yes, studies have indicated that sometimes women can experience a high level of depressive symptoms due to postpartum depression that can last for years after childbirth. For some women, three to six months may not be long enough to gauge depressive symptoms