It’s normal to feel some level of stress during pregnancy, but chronic stress can result in a number of health risks, affecting you and your baby. Here’s what to know and how you can reduce stress while pregnant.
Read MoreAt Inspira, our care includes emotional, physical and spiritual support for moms. This means we’ll help you understand emotional changes after birth and work with you to make sure you’re getting the right treatment, eating well and getting the proper rest and exercise you need.
Experiencing Postpartum Depression
Some mothers are caught off guard when they’re not flooded with excitement and joy after coming home from the hospital with their new baby. Postpartum depression is a condition that can cause women to experience sadness, anxiety or guilt following childbirth.
Differentiating from the “Baby Blues”
As many as three of every four women will experience mood swings, crying, anxiety or restlessness during the first few weeks after birth. These feelings are normal, and they’re called the “baby blues.” It’s important to know that these feelings can escalate when you’re tired or anxious.
About one in every five women will develop depression during the first few months postpartum. This depression may be mild to severe in symptoms, including:
- Feeling guilty
- Trouble bonding with your baby
- Difficulty sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping
- Oversleeping and feeling too tired to get out of bed
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of appetite
- Feelings of failure as a mother
- Thinking your baby might be better off without you
If you’re still experiencing these feelings after two weeks and begin to feel like you can’t take care of your baby, it may be a sign of postpartum depression. We encourage you to call and discuss your feelings during the postpartum period with your Inspira obstetrician or certified nurse midwife. If you are a new mother who is having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call your healthcare provider immediately.
Our Approach to Postpartum Depression
Our team believes in supporting the emotional needs of every woman who seeks our care. When you see your provider at your postpartum visit, usually between two and six weeks after your delivery, we encourage you to discuss any challenges you're experiencing during this life transition.
Inspira Postpartum Depression Specialists
Questions about postpartum depression? Our providers are here to help.
