Babies Postpartum Care How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last? By Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN LinkedIn Chaunie Brusie is a registered nurse with experience in long-term, critical care, and obstetrical and pediatric nursing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 21, 2022 Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD Medically reviewed by Carly Snyder, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Carly Snyder, MD is a reproductive and perinatal psychiatrist who combines traditional psychiatry with integrative medicine-based treatments. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked by Karen Cilli Fact checked by Karen Cilli Karen Cilli is a fact checker on Verywell Mind, reviewing and researching articles to ensure their accuracy. Learn about our editorial process Print FatCamera / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Table of Contents When Does PPD Start? How Long Does It Last? Factors That May Affect Length Symptoms Diagnosis Getting Help The postpartum period can be a time of high emotion. Life changes, upheaval, and hormonal adjustments can all contribute to feelings of overwhelm and play a role in postpartum depression (PPD). It is normal to experience mood changes during this period, but more persistent and severe symptoms may indicate postpartum depression. Learn when PPD might begin and how long it might last. How to Talk About Postpartum Depression When Does Postpartum Depression Start? The onset of postpartum depression is typically seen in parents when their child is between the newborn stage and 6 months of age. The experience, however, is not limited to the first six months after birth. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) use the modifier "postpartum" to note when a person is diagnosed with depression within the first year after the birth of a child. However, some people feel the effects of postpartum depression longer than a year after giving birth. As more people open up about their experiences with postpartum depression, it's becoming clear that the condition affects each individual differently. Peripartum Depression When symptoms of depression begin while a person is pregnant and persist after their baby is born, it is known as peripartum depression. What Is Postpartum Depression? When Will Postpartum Depression End? According to ACOG, postpartum depression can occur in people up until their baby's first birthday. There is no hard and fast rule about that one-year mark, though. Despite its name, postpartum depression is not just something that happens to parents of newborns. Studies indicate that PPD usually resolves within 3–6 months. There is evidence that postpartum depression can be a manifestation of untreated depression before pregnancy. The condition may, at times, be a mental health issue that grows more severe in the presence of hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, and the stress of new parenthood. Some breastfeeding parents experience depression after weaning their babies, which, for many, doesn't occur until after a baby is a year old or older. A 2020 study found that 25% of parents had elevated depressive symptoms as long as three years postpartum. Factors That May Affect How Long It Lasts No timeline can definitively say how long PPD will last for those who experience it. The timeframe for recovery is different for everyone. For some, it lasts longer than the 3-6 month average. Several factors may contribute to PPD that lasts longer. Risk factors for longer recovery from PPD: Lack of partner and social supportA history of depression or anxietyAn abusive partnerA history of childhood sexual abuseMajor life changes or stressFinancial worriesStruggle to adapt to demands of parenthoodHigh standards and excessive self-criticism Treatment Options for Postpartum Depression Symptoms of Postpartum Depression The "baby blues" that can occur in the first few weeks of the postpartum period are not the same as postpartum depression. It is normal to experience a week or two of feeling "out of sorts" or even being a little extra weepy or emotional after having a baby. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, continues beyond the initial couple of weeks after birth. Symptoms of PPD include: Crying or feelings of hopelessness/sadnessAngerAvoiding social interactionFeeling disconnected from your babyFearing that you will hurt your baby or hurt yourselfConstant guiltFeeling like you aren't a good parent People who experience depression during pregnancy or after the birth of a baby may also experience anxiety. If your symptoms last longer than two weeks postpartum and are interfering with your daily activities, it's a sign that you need to discuss your symptoms with your doctor. If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. Diagnosis Experts suspect that postpartum depression is under-diagnosed. People don’t always report symptoms due to stigma or misinformation. Sometimes, people don't recognize when PPD is happening—in part because many new parents think it's normal to feel constantly sad or tired after having a baby. Also, sometimes people think their depression isn’t that bad or that it will go away on its own. If you are struggling to cope, talk to your doctor. Doctors typically use screening tools, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), to assess and diagnose postpartum depression. A score of nine or greater on the EPDS indicates possible depression. Getting Help If you have been diagnosed with postpartum depression, it is essential to start treatment. The sooner you begin treatment, the sooner you can expect to be back to feeling like yourself. There are a number of treatment options for people experiencing PPD. It is common to utilize more than one treatment at a time. For instance, you may want to use medication and go to counseling. It is also OK to try something new if one option isn't working for you. Work with your doctor to determine which options make sense for you. Psychotherapy Psychotherapy is often one of the first treatment options offered to people with mild to moderate cases of PPD. Interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), which focuses on interpersonal distress as the primary catalyst for depression, has shown consistent results. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which focuses on how your thoughts relate to your behaviors, is also an option. Nondirective counseling is the most hands-off approach that focuses on listening and self-affirmation. The most important consideration with psychotherapy is finding a therapist that is a good fit for you. You may need to interview a handful of therapists before finding one with a personality and style that works for you. Ask your friends and family members for recommendations. Parent groups can also be an excellent resource for finding names of therapists with good reputations for treating PPD. Medication Medication is also a first-line treatment for PPD. There are many antidepressants that people experiencing postpartum depression can use. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline) and special antidepressants like Wellbutrin (bupropion) are some common examples. Anti-anxiety medication may also be an option, especially if your PPD symptoms fall more on the anxiety end of the spectrum. For those whose PPD began within four weeks of giving birth and who are less than six months postpartum, Zulresso (brexanolone) is an intravenous (IV) infusion drug specifically designed for treating PPD. Postpartum psychosis may additionally require treatment with mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications. Many antidepressants are approved for use while breastfeeding but talk to your doctor to be sure. A Word From Verywell Postpartum depression is difficult, but treatment can help. While PPD is sometimes confused with the "baby blues," postpartum depression lasts longer and can occur anytime within the first year after giving birth. There is no single timeline for when symptoms may begin or end, so it's important to talk to your doctor if you notice that you have symptoms of PPD. If you are diagnosed with postpartum depression, you may feel overwhelmed or like you have failed at being a new parent. Remember, PPD is common and treatable. It is not an indication that you are weak or doing something wrong. Online Therapy Options for Postpartum Depression 12 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Postpartum Depression. American Psychiatric Association. Postpartum Depression. Vliegen N, Casalin S, Luyten P. The course of postpartum depression: A review of longitudinal studies. Harv Rev Psychiatry. 2014;22(1):1-22. doi:10.1097/hrp.0000000000000013 Ghaedrahmati M, Kazemi A, Kheirabadi G, Ebrahimi A, Bahrami M. Postpartum depression risk factors: A narrative review. J Educ Health Promot. 2017;6:60. doi:10.4103%2Fjehp.jehp_9_16 Putnick DL, Sundaram R, Bell EM, et al. Trajectories of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms. Pediatrics. 2020;146(5):e20200857. doi:10.1542/peds.2020-0857 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression among women. Stuart-Parrigon K, Stuart S. Perinatal depression: An update and overview. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2014;16(9):468. doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0468-6 Falana SD, Carrington JM. Postpartum depression. Nurs Clin North Am. 2019;54(4):561-567. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2019.07.006 Moraes GP, Lorenzo L, Pontes GA, Montenegro MC, Cantilino A. Screening and diagnosing postpartum depression: When and how? Trends Psychiatry Psychother. 2017;39(1):54-61. doi:10.1590/2237-6089-2016-0034 Stuart S. Interpersonal psychotherapy for postpartum depression. Clin Psychol Psychother. 2012;19(2):134-140. doi:10.1002/cpp.1778 Frieder A, Fersh M, Hainline R, Deligiannidis KM. Pharmacotherapy of postpartum depression: Current approaches and novel drug development. CNS Drugs. 2019;33(3):265-282. doi:10.1007/s40263-019-00605-7 Meltzer-Brody S, Colquhoun H, Riesenberg R, et al. Brexanolone injection in post-partum depression: Two multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials. Lancet. 2018;392(10152):1058-1070. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31551-4 Additional Reading American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. FAQs: Postpartum Depression. By Chaunie Brusie, RN, BSN Chaunie Brusie is a registered nurse with experience in long-term, critical care, and obstetrical and pediatric nursing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? 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