Postpartum Depression: Part 1 – The Facts

Having a baby is many different things to many different people. Throughout pregnancy, you spend time preparing and making room for the new arrival. Inevitably planning and maybe even dreaming of how things will be. But sometimes, an unexpected guest shows up. One you didn’t really plan on entertaining. Postpartum Depression (aka PPD).

Postpartum depression is more than the “baby blues” or just a slight hormonal fluctuation. It’s more than a few tears over your post-pregnancy body or a little guilt that you took a nap instead of even attempting to tackle the ever-expanding mountain of laundry.

It’s also more common that we might think. Canadian Mental Health says PPD affects 8-12% of moms, with 10-16% of those moms beginning to experience symptoms during pregnancy. While there are certain predispositions that put you at a higher risk to experience PPD, anyone can be affected. It’s important to educate yourself and to never be afraid to ask for help. Please take a few minutes to check out this Mayo Clinic fact sheet on Postpartum Depression. It’s super informative and educational. And if you have questions or are concerned that you may be experiencing PPD, please talk to someone. You don’t have to do this alone!

*Over the next few weeks, we’ll be taking some time to explore PPD here on the LPCC blog. Getting the facts and hearing from women who have had first-hand experience. Please check back soon for our next installment

Part 2 – The Struggle is Real