{"id":13015,"date":"2026-06-07T14:01:39","date_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=13015"},"modified":"2026-06-07T14:01:39","modified_gmt":"2026-06-07T14:01:39","slug":"most-new-moms-get-the-baby-blues-but-it-could-be-something-more-serious-postpartum-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/siliconvalleymovingpost.com\/?p=13015","title":{"rendered":"Most new moms get the baby blues. But it could be something more serious: postpartum depression"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

By LAURA UNGAR, AP Medical Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more Dodgers score 9 runs in 1st inning, rout Angels in Freeway Series<\/a><\/p>\n

Moments after Jenna Carberg gave birth to her daughter, doctors put the baby on her chest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt a disconnect right away,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>\n

At home, the Orlando, Florida, mom was exhausted and anxious and cried every day. She was eventually diagnosed with postpartum depression \u2014 a potentially dangerous condition that can fill a typically joyous time with deep despair.<\/p>\n

The mood disorder has been on the rise. A 2024 study in the journal JAMA Network Open found that U.S. rates more than doubled in just over a decade, climbing from 9.4% in 2010 to 19% in 2021, partly due to improved screening and diagnosis.<\/p>\n

It can be hard to differentiate the disorder from the much milder and more common \u201cbaby blues\u201d brought on by plummeting hormone levels. But recognizing and treating postpartum depression is crucial, said OB-GYN Dr. Tiffany Moore Simas at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School.<\/p>\n

Moms who go untreated may have problems bonding with and caring for their babies. And they\u2019re at increased risk of suicide.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

\u201cA healthy you will ultimately be important for a healthy baby,\u201d Moore Simas said.<\/p>\n

How to tell if postpartum sadness is more than baby blues<\/h4>\n

Baby blues affects about 8 in 10 new moms, striking shortly after delivery.<\/p>\n

\u201cMoms will feel kind of more emotional than normal,\u201d said Dr. Jennifer Payne, an expert in reproductive psychiatry at the University of Virginia.<\/p>\n

But the crying jags and feelings of sadness aren\u2019t severe enough to interfere with normal life. Moms should still be able to care for themselves and their babies.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Screening tools can help discern if the problem is more serious. A commonly used 10-item questionnaire, often given at a postpartum checkup, asks how often a mom has experienced feelings such as sadness, panic or worry. A high score points toward the need for further evaluation.<\/p>\n

Experts say there\u2019s no single cause of postpartum depression. Genetics, physical changes and emotional issues may contribute to it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re pretty sure that having a case of the baby blues doesn\u2019t increase your risk of postpartum depression,\u201d Payne said. \u201cBut it does seem that both conditions can develop in the same person.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signs of postpartum depression to watch out for<\/h4>\n

If sadness lingers for more than two weeks, that\u2019s one sign.<\/p>\n

Others include intense feelings of despair, anxiety, loss of interest, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, low energy and decreased concentration and appetite. Moms may worry constantly about their babies, be unable to sleep, or stop showering for days.<\/p>\n

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They \u201cfeel negatively and badly about themselves. They\u2019ll feel that they\u2019re a bad mother. They might not feel attached to the baby very much,\u201d Payne said.<\/p>\n

They may even have thoughts of harming themselves.<\/p>\n

Carberg, who gave birth to her daughter in 2016, had such thoughts a couple of times \u2014 once while driving with her daughter. She went to a psychiatric facility for a few days and did better for a while.<\/p>\n

But she later had a severe breakdown. She sent text messages to her husband, Chris, saying she was sorry, then turned her phone off. Chris desperately tried to reach her, worried she\u2019d hurt herself.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe luckily went to the hospital ER,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Postpartum depression can be treated effectively<\/h4>\n

Ultimately, finding the right medication was the key to Jenna Carberg\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt like myself again,\u201d she said after taking the stimulant Vyvanse.<\/p>\n

Other medications include antidepressants such as Zoloft or Prozac, or Zurzuvae, the first pill approved for postpartum depression. Talk therapy is another common treatment, and experts also stress the importance of getting enough sleep and support from family and friends.<\/p>\n

To help others, the Carbergs started an online information resource \u2014 postpartumdepression.org \u2014 to provide support and connect patients with professional help.<\/p>\n

Doctors advise anyone who thinks they or a loved one may have postpartum depression to reach out to their OB-GYN, primary care doctor or mental health provider.<\/p>\n

If necessary, be persistent, said Dr. Kerry Hudson, an OB-GYN at Newport Women\u2019s Health Services in Rhode Island. When she suffered postpartum depression two decades ago, she said, her doctor told her she was just an overstressed medical resident. She finally got help after breaking down in front of colleagues during a presentation.<\/p>\n

After therapy and medications, Hudson went on to have a second child. So did the Carbergs. All are doing well.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we get people help, I think they can have a good future ahead of them,\u201d Hudson said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to suffer in silence.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute\u2019s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.<\/em><\/p>\n

Read more Orange County scores and player stats for Saturday, June 6<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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