How soon after their baby is born do women usually start suffering from post-partum depression?

Answer 1

It depends. Sometimes right after. It depends on the situation the mother is in before she has her child.

Answer 2

Often PPD is related to the rapid changes in hormones that occur during pregnancy and after delivery. Breast feeding, however, can also affect that and it may not occur until you start weaning the baby....so be aware it can happen. The first big hormone swing is traditionally on day 3.......it is common for moms to cry at anything and everything. Don't let that frighten you.....it will usually pass within a day or two. As another person commented......the time to be concerned is if abnormal feelings surface and stay for a matter of days and days. Consider loss of appetite, inability to sleep (or sleeping all the time), extreme irritability, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, or feeling like you want to be away from everyone .........all signs of needing to call the doctor as soon as possible. Do not minimize your feelings but tell the doctor the whole story so he will have an accurate picture of how you are really doing. If you ever feel out of touch with reality, have visual or auditatory hallucinations, or have a desire to hurt yourself or the baby....call another adult to come be with you right away....then call the doctor and be sure you're seen immediately. If not.....call 911 or have a friend take you to the ER. You can get helped pretty easily....they won't think you're a nutcase....it's common..,..and it is the smart thing to do for yourself and your baby.

Answer 3

Everything depends on the environement you live in.Some women never suffer from post partum depression.If you husband is a loving person and helps you as much as you can, if you eat and sleep well, exercise and try to keep a positive thinking -even if it`s hard with a newborn especially when they start crying and you don`t know whats wrong with them-and you might not suffer from this.People around you should pay attention and make you feel comfortable.
Me for example I didnt had this problem, maybe because I knew i was a single mother at that time and the ideea of something like that happening would not be good for my baby made me be strong.

Answer 4

I do not recall just how quickly the post-partum depression set in. Depending on the mother's pain level, physical ailments, personal problems, health of the baby, and a host of other stressors, the depression can set-in within days of the birth.
If the baby's health is a problem, going to ICU or a children's hospital the mother's stress can skyrocket. All the stressors, plus the rapid hormone changes can play a part in the occurance of her depression.

I do recall that on average, the post-partum depression will peak about the 4th or 5th week. If the depression extends much beyond the 6th week, it is time to get help. Or if there are suicidal or homicidal thoughts, or other out of reality thoughts, beliefs or intents, go to the ER immediately.

The sooner you get medical help, the sooner the depression will get under control.

Answer 5

I will tell you my experience and I hope this helps you. I had ppd with my first, and even though I did not feel emotionally depressed, the day after I gave birth, I stopped eating. I lost my appetite and knew something was not right. I finally started feeling depressed about a week later. Every situation is different and everyone is different but from what I know if it is weeks into post partum it is unlikely that you will get it. Also do not confuse baby blues with depression. it is normal to feel angry, tired, restless and teary sometimes. With my second, I was fine, because I knew what to expect and what to watch for. One other thing, with my first I gave birth naturally but with an epidural, my second it was comepletly natural no epudural...so a very different experience. It might have something to do with it, I dont know but this is how it might have affected me.

Answer 6

For me it was day 3 after giving birth, both children, but it didn't last long.