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 (also known as PPD) is a mental health condition that can persist for months. It is different to the ‘baby blues’, which is temporary and less severe. Feelings can manifest as mood swings, helplessness, extreme stress, and loneliness. These emotions can make it difficult for you to function each day. They can also make it challenging to bond with your baby.
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.