On this page
- Perinatal depression vs. postpartum depression
- What is postpartum depression?
- What are the main symptoms of postpartum depression?
- When does postpartum depression occur? How long does it last?
- Baby blues vs. postpartum depression
- Postpartum rage and anxiety
- Am I depressed or just exhausted?
- Postpartum depression in men
Perinatal depression vs. postpartum depression
The difference between perinatal depression and postpartum depression is the timing.
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- Perinatal depression is depression that’s experienced across a broader timeframe, including before and after a baby is born.
- Postpartum depression specifically refers to depression that happens after a baby is born.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression can also take the form of postpartum rage or postpartum anxiety. It can also be called postnatal depression. These are all terms associated with feelings that arise in new parents after a baby is born. If these feelings arise before a baby is born, the condition is called antenatal depression.
Your risk of developing postpartum depression may be higher if you or your family have a history of depression and anxiety, or other mental health conditions. Risk may also increase depending on your personal circumstances, such as fertility or pregnancy complications, relationship difficulties, financial instability, or a lack of support from family and friends.
What are the main symptoms of postpartum depression?
It can be hard to differentiate between clinical depression and exhaustion. This makes it hard to know if your feelings are typical or if they indicate something more serious.
If you’ve experienced some of the following symptoms for two weeks or more, it’s important to seek support. This will help you manage symptoms, as well as improve the overall health and wellbeing of you and your baby.
- Fear and anxiety for you and/or your baby
- Recurring negative thoughts
- Low mood or emotional distress
- Sadness, numbness, or hopelessness
- Inadequacy, guilt, shame, or worthlessness
- Irritability, anger, frustration, or resentment
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Withdrawal from social contact
- Insomnia or excessive sleep
- Significant changes in eating habits.
When does postpartum depression occur? How long does it last?
Postpartum depression often starts from four to six weeks after giving birth. However, it can happen anytime during the first year after a baby is born.
How long does postpartum depression last?
Without treatment, Postpartum depression can last for several months – or even years. That’s why it’s extremely important to seek help if symptoms persist. It’s also important to know that postpartum depression symptoms can come back after you stop treatment. Continue to be aware of the signs and don’t hesitate to seek support if negative feelings start creeping back in.
Postpartum depression doesn’t just affect mothers. Fathers are prone to experiencing it too, especially if they have a history of mental health conditions. We look at postpartum depression in men further down this page.
Baby blues vs. postpartum depression
- If you have the baby blues, you might feel teary or overwhelmed. This usually passes within a few days and without specific care.
- If you have postpartum depression, you feel distressed, sad or overwhelmed most of the time – and have been for two weeks or more.
If you think your partner or baby would be better off without you, or you are having thoughts harming yourself or your baby, seek urgent help.
Postpartum rage and anxiety
- Postpartum rage is often characterised by intense spells of anger, irritability, and aggression that occur in the weeks and months following childbirth.
- Postpartum anxiety is often characterised by excessive feelings of worry, fear and nervousness that interfere with a new parent’s daily routine.
Addressing postpartum rage
hormonal changes
sleep deprivation
the overwhelming responsibilities of parenting.
If you think you could be experiencing postpartum rage, seek help from healthcare providers. Alternatively, look at joining support groups and developing coping strategies to manage stress and anger. Try our guided breathing and relaxation exercises - such as taking a deep breath and counting to ten.
Coping with postpartum anxiety
New parents with anxiety might fear they are losing control. They may try to do too much with little help (for example, keeping the house overly tidy), or worry that what they're doing with their baby is not 'right' or 'good enough'.
Common signs of postpartum anxiety can include:
panic attacks
- constantly feeling irritable, restless or on edge
- having tense muscles, a tight chest, and heart palpitations
- finding it difficult to relax
- taking a long time to fall asleep at night.
- interrupt your thoughts
- interfere with daily tasks
- stop you from going out with your baby
- lead you to check on your baby constantly.
When you speak to your GP or child and family health nurse, they can help develop a treatment plan that’s tailored for your needs, situation, and preferences. This may include a combination of emotional and practical treatments such as psychological therapies and medication.
Am I depressed or just exhausted?
Here’s what new parent exhaustion often looks like:
- you’re still able to maintain a relatively positive view of yourself and your life, despite being tired all the time
- you understand that sleep deprivation is temporary – things will improve
- your mood improves when you’ve had some rest
- you can still get joy from some things in your life.
- you think about yourself and your life in a negative way (you say things like “I’m a failure”, “I’m doing a bad job”, “my life is terrible”)
- you feel hopeless and can’t see how things will ever get better
- your thoughts and feelings remain unhelpful, even after getting some rest
- you can’t get joy out of anything – even things you used to like.
Postpartum depression in men
Both parents may experience postpartum depression. In fathers, symptoms often present as increased irritability or withdrawal, as opposed to sadness in mothers.
Postpartum depression in men can develop over several months. It can peak between three to six months after a baby is born.
For dads experiencing postpartum depression, it can help to talk openly to family, friends, and other parents. If they continue to feel down, it’s important to seek professional help.
If you’ve recently become a father (or you’re about to become one), we’ve got information and resources that can help you take care of yourself.
