Symptoms  

A woman experiencing postpartum depression or other pregnancy-related mood disorder may:

• feel sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed

• feel anxious or panicky

• regret having a baby

• have trouble sleeping, even when baby sleeps

• think her family would be better off without her

• fear leaving the house or being alone

• isolate herself from friends and family

• have unexplained anger or irritability

• fear she might harm herself or her baby

• have trouble coping with daily tasks

• have difficulty concentrating or making simple decisions

• feel “out of control”

• feel guilty for feeling this way
  
  

  
  

Experiencing three or more of these symptoms, especially if they last for more than two weeks, could be a sign of postpartum depression or anxiety.

Women experiencing postpartum depression say:

• This is supposed to be the happiest time in my life…
  why am I so miserable?

• I want to run away.

• I can’t take it anymore!

• Why can’t I snap out of it?

• I regret having this baby.

• My marriage cannot survive this.

• Why am I such a failure? 

• I feel like the worst mother in the world.