Postpartum Blues

Excerpt

Psychiatric illnesses that are non-psychotic are one of the most common morbidities of pregnancy and the perinatal period. These disorders include depressive disorders (postpartum blues, postpartum depression), anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and personality disorders. Postpartum “blues” are defined as low mood and mild depressive symptoms that are transient and self-limited. The depressive symptoms include sadness, crying, exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, decreased sleep, decreased concentration, and labile mood. These symptoms typically develop within two to three days of childbirth, peak over the next few days, and resolve by themselves within two weeks of their onset.