How Common is Postpartum Depression?
Postpartum depression is caused by the drop in pregnancy hormones, which begins to occur shortly after a baby is born or a woman suffers a miscarriage. All women will have this drop in hormones, but for some women, symptoms of postpartum depression will occur. The American Psychiatric Association currently estimates that about 10% of women experience at least mild postpartum depression when a pregnancy ends.
Postpartum depression is caused by the drop in pregnancy hormones, which begins to occur shortly after a baby is born or a woman suffers a miscarriage. All women will have this drop in hormones, but for some women, symptoms of postpartum depression will occur. The American Psychiatric Association currently estimates that about 10% of women experience at least mild postpartum depression when a pregnancy ends. About 70% of all women experience the “baby blues” a few days after giving birth, which may include some crying or feelings of mild anxiety or sadness. This is distinguished from postpartum depression because the “baby blues” don’t make a woman feel like hurting herself or her baby. The symptoms usually dissipate within a few days, as well. Postpartum depression tends to linger.
