Depression can actually happen to women within the first year after birth of their baby and still be considered perinatal depression. The exact numbers of women who suffer from this condition aren’t known because of the difficulty tracking the incidence. Researchers do believe that it is a common complication during and after pregnancy.

Sometimes a mild or moderate case might not be recognized by the woman, spouse or physician because the symptoms often mimic some of the more normal changes after delivery such as trouble sleeping, stronger emotional reactions, changes in body weight, tiredness or fatigue.

Woman, their spouses, friends, family and physicians should be aware of the potential for developing this condition so that treatment can be started as quickly as possible. Early treatment and intervention can lead to a quicker recovery and less emotional pain for both the woman and the spouse.

Postpartum Depression Factors:

There may be a number of reasons that women become depressed in the postpartum period. In some cases the reason may be obvious while at other times the reasons may evade detection.   Hormone changes in the woman’s body after birth, a stressful life event, a death in the family can all cause chemical changes in the brain that lead to depression.

Depression, or the predisposition to this condition, is also something that ‘runs in families’.  

Researchers also believe that the large changes in the hormone levels of the woman can lead to depression the way that small changes during her menstrual period can lead to mood swings and emotional upheaval.

Woman can also suffer from depression during pregnancy that can be triggered by a history of depression or substance abuse, family history of depression, anxiety, problems with a previous birth or pregnancy, marital or financial problems or woman who are very young.

Another factor in the development of postpartum depression may be a drop in thyroid hormone after delivery of the baby. The thyroid gland is located in the neck and is responsible for regulating the metabolism. Low levels can cause depression, decreased interest, irritability, fatigue, sleep problems, weight gain and difficulty concentrating. A simple blood test will rule out any thyroid problems. If this is the reason for depression a thyroid medication can be prescribed to solve the issue.

There are other factors that can trigger depression in the postpartum time period such as lack of sleep, feelings of being overwhelmed with the baby or stress from changes in work or home routines or feelings of loss of control over time can all trigger more chemical changes in the brain that will trigger depression. 

Some women don’t confess their feelings or struggles because they feel embarrassed, ashamed or guilty as if it’s somehow their fault. They may feel they should be happy because they just had a beautiful baby but in reality they feel entirely different. They may worry that they will be seen as unfit.