{"id":18,"date":"2026-04-29T11:16:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T15:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/beyond-the-blue\/?page_id=18"},"modified":"2026-05-06T17:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T21:25:29","slug":"about-postpartum-depression","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/beyond-the-blues\/about-postpartum-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"About Postpartum Depression"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-18\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-18-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-18-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-18-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-8b5b6f678277-18\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440.png\" width=\"2000\" height=\"726\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440.png 2000w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440-300x109.png 300w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440-1024x372.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440-768x279.png 768w, https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/235\/AdobeStock_881162440-1536x558.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" alt=\"Exhausted young woman with baby\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-18-0-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<h2>What does Postpartum Depression feel like?<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/postpartum.net\/perinatal-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Postpartum Support International (PSI)<\/a> has a webpage that describes symptoms, or the different ways someone might feel, if they are experiencing Perinatal Depression (perinatal means before and after birth), which includes Postpartum Depression. It is important to remember that you may not have all of the symptoms, and not everyone will have the same symptoms. See a list of symptoms below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Feelings of anger, irritability and\/or rage<\/li>\n<li>Lack of interest in baby<\/li>\n<li>Disturbance of sleep and appetite<\/li>\n<li>Crying and sadness<\/li>\n<li>Feelings of guilt, shame or hopelessness<\/li>\n<li>Loss of interest, joy or pleasure in things you used to enjoy<\/li>\n<li>Possible thoughts of harming yourself or baby<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This webpage also offers a helpful list of other perinatal mental health conditions. For each condition you can learn more about symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options that can help you feel better.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Treatment options can be talked about with your healthcare provider to decide what is the best plan for you.<\/strong> Options can include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Working on behaviors that can improve your mental health for example sleep, meditation, exercise, participating in support groups<\/li>\n<li>Counseling<\/li>\n<li>Medication<\/li>\n<li>Some people also may need more intensive support and participation in an inpatient program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>What can cause maternal mental health issues?<\/h3>\n<p>The Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance has a useful <a href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/637b72cb2e3c555fa412eaf0\/t\/69c6b26e593ad155cc51772d\/1774629487450\/March+2026+-+Fact+Sheet+-+Maternal+Mental+Health+Overview.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Maternal Mental Health Overview fact sheet<\/a> which includes a summary of the things that can cause maternal mental health conditions. Examples include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Changes in hormone levels, which can affect someone\u2019s moods<\/li>\n<li>Changes in your personal life after becoming a parent such as your role at home and having new responsibilities<\/li>\n<li>The daily stressors of life like work and finances<\/li>\n<li>Other experiences in your environment, like the COVID-19 pandemic, that can increase anxiety or depression<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There are many things that can affect whether or not someone will experience mental health challenges. Being pregnant, becoming a parent, and raising a family can all be really hard at times. The important thing to remember is that if you are struggling, support and treatment are available, and you can get help.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>For Providers: Screening and Treatment Tools<\/h2>\n<h3>Screening<\/h3>\n<p>The Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health has put together a list of validated screening tools healthcare providers can use when working with pregnant and postpartum people. Depression is commonly screened for using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Screen (EPDS) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2 or PHQ-9). <a href=\"https:\/\/policycentermmh.org\/mmh-screening-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Learn more about these screening tools and ones used for several other maternal mental health conditions.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>There is also a clinical guideline available from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on <a href=\"https:\/\/ilpqc.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screening-and-Diagnosis-of-Mental-Health-Conditions-During-Pregnancy-and-Postpartum_ACOG-Clinical-Practice-Guideline-No.-4-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">screening and diagnosis<\/a> of mental health conditions during pregnancy and the postpartum period.<\/p>\n<h3>Treatment and Management<\/h3>\n<p>The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG, provides comprehensive clinical guidelines for healthcare providers on a variety of perinatal conditions. If you have membership, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/clinical\/clinical-guidance\/clinical-practice-guideline\/articles\/2023\/06\/treatment-and-management-of-mental-health-conditions-during-pregnancy-and-postpartum\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">access their guideline<\/a> for treatment and management of mental health conditions during pregnancy and postpartum. At time of this webpage\u2019s publication, <a href=\"https:\/\/projectteachny.org\/app\/uploads\/2024\/04\/ACOG-clin-guidelines-treatment_and_management_of_mental_health.2023.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the guideline<\/a>, last updated in June 2023, is available at no cost.<\/p>\n<p>This guideline includes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Risk counseling information when discussing treatments with patients<\/li>\n<li>Handy tables for providers that detail medication dosages, and<\/li>\n<li>Summaries of relevant research findings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>What Can Happen if Someone Doesn\u2019t Get Mental Health Support When They Need It?<\/h2>\n<p>The Maternal Mental Health Alliance has a fact sheet titled <a href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/637b72cb2e3c555fa412eaf0\/t\/69c6b26e593ad155cc51772d\/1774629487450\/March+2026+-+Fact+Sheet+-+Maternal+Mental+Health+Overview.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cMaternal Mental Health Overview\u201d<\/a> and it shares helpful information about untreated perinatal and postpartum mental health conditions, which include depression. Some highlights from the fact sheet are below:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>75% of women impacted by Maternal Mental Health (MMH) conditions remain untreated, increasing the risk of long-term negative impacts on mothers, babies, and families<\/li>\n<li>Moms that don\u2019t get the mental health support they need may not get all of the prenatal care they should or use substances like alcohol and tobacco<\/li>\n<li>Moms also might have trouble bonding with their baby and worry they aren\u2019t good at being a mom<\/li>\n<li>Children of moms that don\u2019t get the mental health support they need are at higher risk of being born too early, weighing too little at birth, or crying much more than is normal<\/li>\n<li>Parents that are depressed or anxious and don\u2019t get support may be more likely to have issues setting up safe sleep environments for baby or setting up a car seat correctly<\/li>\n<li>In untreated, symptoms of MMH conditions can last up to 3 years postpartum<\/li>\n<li>As many as 1 in 10 fathers experience postpartum depression, with maternal depression being the #1 predictor of paternal depression<\/li>\n<li>Partners and adoptive parents are also at risk for experiencing mental health conditions related to pregnancy and parenting<\/li>\n<li>The cost of treating MMH conditions is $32,000 per mother-infant pair, or $14 billion each year in the U.S.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Do you want to read some of the research? Please see the articles and fact sheets below with more info:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC7204436\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Financial Toll of Untreated Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Among 2017 Births in the United States - PMC<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/static1.squarespace.com\/static\/637b72cb2e3c555fa412eaf0\/t\/688ccd8adbf4317aab654511\/1754058122670\/Fact+Sheet+-+Maternal+Mental+Health+Impact+on+the+Child+Fact+Sheet+-+August+1+2025.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fact Sheet - Maternal Mental Health Impact on the Child Fact Sheet - August 1 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-abstract\/146\/5\/e20200857\/75352\/Trajectories-of-Maternal-Postpartum-Depressive?redirectedFrom=fulltext\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Trajectories of Maternal Postpartum Depressive Symptoms | Pediatrics | American Academy of Pediatrics<\/a> (in one study, lasted up to 3 years when untreated)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What does Postpartum Depression feel like? 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