How Long Does Postpartum Depression Last? Causes, Symptoms & Effects 2024

Depression can take various forms and has many different causes. It is thought that 60% of women^[1] who commit suicide during the postpartum period do not seek mental health treatment beforehand. 

The death of loved ones, isolation, and illness are major environmental triggers of depression. Physical triggers include chemical imbalances in the brain, which may lead to postpartum depression which is also known as post-natal depression or having the baby blues.

Postpartum depression is linked to the mental and physical effects that come with giving birth. This form of depression comes with numerous symptoms, such as mood swings^[2], sleep deprivation, irritability, difficulty concentrating, feeling fatigued, and anxiety attacks.

The key is to control the symptoms and prevent this condition from getting out of hand. One symptom, to be discussed later, may not manifest for up to seven years of the onset of postpartum symptoms.

If prompt treatment is provided with on-going doctor visits, rest and relaxation, diet and exercise, and self-care for postpartum depression symptoms, then this can help mom and baby continue to bond naturally together without any issues.

Symptoms

To diagnose postpartum depression, a healthcare specialist will look for some or all of the classic postpartum depressive symptoms. The risk factors^[1] for postpartum depression are not known but having health problems and a lack of social support are precipitating factors.

How long postpartum depression symptoms last can vary from mild cases that may only last a couple of weeks and have differing symptoms from those that are experienced during the onset of a lengthy episode of the illness. 

Loss of Appetite or Eating More Than Usual

Emotional upset and depression that accompany postpartum depression do not only affect the mind, as there are physical effects as well. These can manifest in a lack of appetite, which can lead to weight loss.

This form of depression can also make you and those around you overeat or turn to seek comfort in food. Compulsive eating can lead to weight gain in the long run and all the health problems that come with being overweight, such as the increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Insomnia

A new mom can expect less sleep because of the demands of a newborn baby. However, the positive here is that mom and baby spend more time with each other. 

Insomnia associated with postpartum depression can be crippling and impact further the mother’s physical and mental well-being. Sleep deprivation can also affect a mom’s capability of being able to look after her child properly.

Sudden shifts in hormones, the fatigue of caring for a new infant, and the added burden of postpartum pain all impact on mom’s ability to get a good night’s rest.

Severe Mood Swings

Mood swings are common in those who suffer from different types of depression, and these can be severe for postpartum depression sufferers. 

Major hormone fluctuations may be a culprit presenting more severe symptoms and making one feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster ride.

This can strain the relationship between mom and child and the baby’s father as well. Individuals can suddenly turn on their loved ones without much in the way of provocation.

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks can be emotionally and physically draining and debilitating all at the same time. This is because they are accompanied by irrational negative thoughts that harm is about to be inflicted on the sufferer. 

Panic attacks can also be accompanied by claustrophobia and difficulty breathing, often resulting from over breathing while panic-stricken.

Feelings of Guilt

Oftentimes, a new mother will be overcome with the new responsibilities and work of caring for a newborn infant. This increased workload and demand on social reserves may leave a new mom feeling helpless and overworked, thus contributing to fatigue and an inability to care for their infant, which leads to a feeling of guilt and worthlessness.

Causes 

It is thought that hormonal changes are behind postpartum depression. Pregnancy leads to high levels of estrogen^[4] and progesterone being released in the female body. 

However, these levels quickly decrease within 24 hours after giving birth. This can affect someone’s mood and lead to depression and the mindset that sufferers get trapped in. 

Sudden Hormonal Changes

Sudden drops in hormone levels can affect mood and cause depression and, more especially, postpartum depression. Dips in estrogen and progesterone are extreme and more so than during the menstrual cycle. 

These hormonal changes can also affect appetite, leading to more or less food being consumed with a resulting binge-purge cycle or other eating disorders surfacing.

Sudden Changes In Routine

Everyone has a daily routine that makes them feel comfortable and in control of their lives. If something suddenly interrupts this pattern or turns it upside down, then feelings of insecurity can arise.

A newborn baby often means the mother must take time off of work. As a result, socializing becomes more challenging, and sleep patterns are disrupted. This can lead to insomnia or extreme tiredness. 

Many new moms feel isolated from the outside world due to the amount of time they spend with their infants. Feelings of isolation are a leading cause of depression and anxiety. Support groups for moms and newborns may be a helpful outlet for these new moms.

Thyroid Hormone

The thyroid gland has many functions in the body, one of which is to produce hormones that help to regulate the metabolic rate of the human body.

Low levels of thyroid hormones such as thyroxine not only affect metabolism but can also negatively affect mental well-being, leaving sufferers feeling fatigued. Mood swings in this state are common as individuals can easily get agitated with their child’s behavior. 

Postpartum thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland, frequently occurs in up to 10%^[5] of postpartum women and can contribute to the signs and symptoms of postpartum depression and weight gain. 

While 80% of thyroiditis patients recover in a year, one long-term study showed that symptoms progressed in 50% to hypothyroidism^[5] in seven years.

Other symptoms can also include weight gain^[6], which again can help fuel depression.

Feeling Overwhelmed

Many new moms feel the same overwhelmed due to the huge demands placed upon them while bringing up an infant. Unfortunately, this can lead to panic attacks and low self-esteem, as new moms question their ability to be able to be considered good mothers. 

Some even doubt whether they can see motherhood out at all because they feel trapped and claustrophobic as their freedom is taken away from them.

 Their bodies may take some time to feel like their own again after the pain of childbirth and the year it takes to heal the pelvic floor muscles, an overwhelming physical recovery.

Effects of Postpartum Depression

The effects of postpartum depression are adverse to both mom and baby. Because of this, seeking out treatment as soon as possible is important, especially if individuals show all the signs of developing postpartum depression. 

Postpartum depression affects infant behavior and can lead to poor cognitive functioning^[7]. Even violent behavior and psychological problems in adolescence have been attributed to children whose moms have suffered from postpartum depression.

Treatments

The risk factors for developing postpartum depression are both biological and environmentally driven. 

Hormonal changes and disturbances in everyday life create a perfect storm for this condition to develop. Like clinical depression, postpartum depression must be diagnosed and treated promptly.

Conventional Treatments

Conventional treatments^[8] include antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy. Antidepressants are often used for certain forms of depression and other conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, general anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Antidepressants^[9] increase serotonin and noradrenaline, which are neurotransmitters linked to emotions and mood. Antidepressant treatment can usually last for up to six months or longer, but there may be side effects related to this medication.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a non-drug approach to treating depression. It is described as talking therapy, and this treatment aims to change the patient’s thought patterns and behavior. It also seeks to alter the negative thought patterns that dominate the minds of depression sufferers.

Alternative Therapies

Acupuncture predates modern medicine and is mostly used for pain relief. Traditional Chinese acupuncture is, however, used to boost general well-being by opening blocked energy meridians and allowing the free flow of Qi, our energy force, around the body.

Other forms^[10] of alternative therapies include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, aromatherapy, wake therapy, sleep therapy, and doula support. 

A doula is a person with or without obstetric training who is supportive of a woman during labor, delivery, breastfeeding, and postpartum care of the infant.

Sleep Hygiene

Having a good sleep therapy regimen may help you get back on track to a good night’s rest. Having a set bedtime is difficult with an infant but strive to be consistent. 

Turn off lights including night lights and listen to soft music or silence. Do not eat three hours before bed and avoid caffeine late in the day.

Sleep has always been vital to the health of both humans and animals. Getting a minimum of eight hours of sleep is essential, and this can benefit mental health greatly if accomplished. 

Anxiety and depression can disturb sleeping patterns and prevent sufferers from getting enough sleep. However, the treatments mentioned above can aid sleep. If the patient responds positively to them, this can result in unbroken sleep, which is healthy for both the mind and body.

Lack of sleep can help fuel depression and promote physical decline. Our immune system relies on sleep to function properly. Sleep also helps with brain function, and our emotional well-being depends on our ability to sleep properly. 

Meditation can help improve sleeping patterns, as can some herbal remedies that can be purchased from any good health store.

The Bottom Line

Postpartum depression can become a serious condition if left untreated. It impacts the mother’s health and can interfere with the natural bonding between the infant and the mom. This bonding is vital for the natural mental development of the child.

If mood swings, anxiety, and other symptoms are present, then a doctor should be consulted to diagnose postpartum depression. Then the journey down the road to recovery can begin with all the therapies available for patients to try. What is the most effective therapy depends on which one the patient responds to best. 

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