Postpartum Depression

Having a new baby can be challenging both physically and emotionally, even at the best of times. It is normal to go through an adjustment period following childbirth; new mothers may experience many different emotions, feeling joyful one minute to feeling depressed the next. Up to 75% of new mothers experience “baby blues” feelings of sadness, anger, anxiety, fear, overwhelmed, weepy, irritable, fatigued and have trouble sleeping. By taking good care of yourself and giving your body what it needs -sleep, healthy food, companionship- the baby blues will usually go away on its own by the time your baby is two weeks old. However if these feelings don’t go away or get worse, you may be experiencing Postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is treatable. Please refer to these resources for more information:

• PPD Manitoba
• Coping with Change: a new parent’s guide
• Manitoba Parent Zone: Post-Partum Mental Health
• Healthy Child Manitoba: The Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Fathers / partners can experience postpartum depression after the birth of a new baby. Please refer to the above resources for more information as they are for mothers, fathers and partners.