Postpartum Depression

Call 911 , the national suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255), the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453), or other emergency services right away if:

• You or someone you know is thinking seriously of committing suicide or has recently tried to commit suicide. Serious signs include these thoughts:
  • You have decided on how to kill yourself, such as with a weapon or medicines.
  • You have set a time and place to do it.
  • You think there is no other way to solve the problem or end the pain.
• You feel you cannot stop from hurting yourself, your baby, or someone else.

Call a doctor right away if:

• You hear voices.
• You have been thinking about death or suicide a lot, but you do not have a plan to commit suicide.
• You are worried that your feelings of depression or thoughts of suicide are not going away.

Seek care soon if:

• You have symptoms of depression, such as:
  • Feeling sad or hopeless.
  • Not enjoying anything.
  • Having trouble with sleep.
  • Feeling guilty.
  • Feeling anxious or worried.
• You have been treated for depression for more than 3 weeks, but you are not getting better.

Who to see

Your Reference pregnancy health professional may be the first person to note and diagnose postpartum depression. This is one of many reasons why it's important to have a medical check 3 to 6 weeks after childbirth.

Diagnosis and treatment of postpartum depression can be provided by a:

• Reference General practitioner Opens New Window.
• Reference Family doctor Opens New Window.
• Reference Psychiatrist Opens New Window.
• Reference Physician assistant Opens New Window.
• Reference Nurse practitioner Opens New Window.

Counseling can be provided by a:

• Reference Psychologist Opens New Window.
• Reference Social worker Opens New Window.
• Reference Licensed professional counselor Opens New Window.
• Reference Psychiatrist Opens New Window (all prescribe medicine, and many also provide counseling).

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Reference Making the Most of Your Appointment.

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