Postpartum and Postnatal Forum - Postpartum Depression And Other Related Illness

Baby blues: the baby blues happen in many woman following the delivery of the child. The mother can have sudden mood swings, she may cry for no apparent reason, and feel impatient, restless, irritable, anxious, sad and lonely. The baby blues may last a few hours or up to 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. The baby blues do not always need treatment from a healthcare provider. Often times joining a support group of new moms and talking with other moms helps.

Postpartum depression(ppd): ppd can occur a few days or even months after childbirth. Ppd can happen after the birth of any child, not necessarily the first. The symptoms of ppd are similar to that of the baby blues but the woman feels them with more intensity. Ppd often interferes with a woman's daily life and when a woman’s ability to function is affected, this is a sign that she must see her healthcare provider immediately. If ppd goes untreated, symptoms may worsen and last as long as a year. Though ppd is a serious condition, it can often be treated with medication and counseling.

postpartum psychosis: a very serious mental illness that often affects new mothers. This illness can happen quickly, usually within the first 3 months following childbirth. Women suffering from this illness can lose touch with reality, often having auditory hallucinations, and delusions. Woman often have insomnia, agitation, feeling angry, and having strange feelings and behaviors. Woman who suffer from postpartum psychosis need treatment immediately and most often need medication. Sometimes woman are hospitalized because they have a risk for hurting themselves or others.
any woman regardless of age, economic status and racial/ethnic background can be affected by ppd. Any woman who is pregnant, had a baby within the past few months, miscarried or recently stopped breastfeeding is at risk for ppd. The number of children a woman has does not affect her chances of getting ppd. Woman with a history of depression are more at risk for ppd than woman without a history of depression.

This is where I got the info from http://www.4woman.Gov/f aq/postpartum.Htm

i am really not trying to start anything, I just want to let you know that ppp is a real illness that people suffer from. I apoligize if this get's heated at all, that is not my intent.