Postpartum Symptoms
Comparison
Shades of Blue
The chart below compares postpartum depression symptoms with signs of the postpartum blues and the symptoms of
postpartum psychosis.
|
Symptoms
|
Postpartum Blues
|
Postpartum Depression
|
Postpartum Psychosis
|
|
When does it happen?
|
Usually shortly after birth
|
Typically in the first year
|
Typically in the first year
|
|
How many moms have this issue?
|
50-80%
up to 4 out of 5
|
13%
1 in 8
|
.1%
1 in 1000
|
| How long does it last? |
Usually a few days; sometimes weeks
|
Usually a few weeks; sometimes months
|
Usually a few weeks; sometimes months
|
|
Can't Sleep
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Sleep all the time
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Trapped
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Moody
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Weepy
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Hopeless
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Worthless
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling alone or isolated
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Overwhelmed
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Can't concentrate
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Irritable
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Anxious
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Loss of appetite
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Feeling Ineffective
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Worry you are a "bad" mom.
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
|
Fear it won't get better
|
•
|
•
|
•
|
| Thinking your kids are better off without you |
|
•
|
•
|
| Hallucinations or hearing voices |
|
|
•
|
|
Suicidal
|
|
|
•
|
|
Homocidal
|
|
|
•
|
It is imperative that if you are seriously thinking
about hurting yourself, your child, or anybody else that you get help immediately.
If you do not have a church, friend or community support system, call the national suicide
hotline at
1-800-SUICIDE.
Return to Postpartum Blues? from Postpartum
Depression Symptoms
|