Postpartum depression is a serious mental disorder that develops after childbirth, causing intense feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and discouragement. Although it is often thought of as a women's problem, postpartum depression can affect both mothers and fathers. Symptoms can vary in type and severity, but may include loss of interest in once-enjoyable activities, mood swings, withdrawal from loved ones, random crying spells, extreme sadness, difficulty concentrating, irritability and feelings of anger, feelings of being an inadequate parent, difficulty bonding with your baby, sleep problems, and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Postpartum depression is a common disorder that affects about 1 in 7 women and 1 in 10 men. Experts generally agree that postpartum depression develops due to physical, emotional, and behavioral changes in both the body and mind. So it’s essential to create healthy habits and build a strong support system before birth. Postpartum depression can last for months or years if left untreated, but with the right tools and support, most parents recover much more quickly, usually within weeks or months.

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