A baby’s birth is usually a time of joy and celebration. For parents, though, the delight might be tempered with worries about the baby’s safety, family finances, and sleepless nights.
It’s normal to have anxieties while adjusting to parenthood. But after giving birth, some women develop a more extreme condition—a depression that persists for at least 2 weeks. This disorder, called postpartum depression, requires medical attention.
By most estimates, postpartum depression arises in more than 1 in 10 women up to a year after childbirth. Some don’t realize they have an illness that can improve with treatment. They may suffer in silence and fail to mention their sadness or concerns to their doctor, spouse, or friends. They may be reluctant to share their true feelings because they think a baby is expected to bring happiness….