Experiencing depression or anxiety after giving birth is very common. Some federal studies have shown that 1 in every 8 women who give birth experience maternal depression. Treatment is available. If you experience any of the symptoms below, you should talk with your doctor or provider about how you are feeling and ask what treatment options may be right for you.
Symptoms
It’s common for women to experience the “baby blues,” which usually start within a couple days after birth and last for about two weeks. Women experiencing the baby blues usually feel sadness, moodiness, or a sense of being overwhelmed. This is normal and should resolve on its own.
Postpartum depression is more serious, could interfere with your ability to care for yourself or your newborn, and is something you should talk with your doctor about as soon as you recognize the signs. Symptoms include:
- Feeling depressed or hopeless
- Crying a lot
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Fear that you are not a good mother
- Inability to concentrate
- Severe anxiety
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Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Need to talk to someone?
There are several confidential ways to get mental health support during and after your pregnancy. You can call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline 24/7 at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (852-6262). You can also call the Arkansas Mental Health & Addiction Support Line at 1-844-763-0198 to find a provider that accepts the type of insurance you have or one that accepts patients without insurance.
What to do when you’re in crisis?
If you feel like you are going to harm yourself or your baby, seek help from friends or family to take care of your baby. For immediate help, dial 988, the national suicide and crisis lifeline. You can also call your doctor or provider or seek mental health treatment.
