When Postpartum Depression Symptoms Surface Late – Cora

When to get help for maternal & postpartum depression symptoms.

While a certain amount of stress and frustration is almost synonymous with parenthood, it’s important to recognize when the feelings of anxiety, hopelessness, irritability, and fatigue are consistent and overwhelming.

“One of the things we often say is that it is not the emotion itself that is the problem. It’s the frequency, intensity, and duration of the emotion,” says Kleiman. “Every new mother cries. All new mothers feel overwhelmed. Every new mother is exhausted. But if she is crying all day, if she is so overwhelmed she is unable to function, or if her fatigue interferes with her ability to get through the day, that’s too much distress.”

But of course, when you’re depressed, it can be difficult to advocate for yourself. Women need families and support networks to stay vigilant after the first few weeks of motherhood, says Kleiman.

“We ask families to be alert for signs that mom is not functioning the way she would like or the way she expected to,” says Kleiman. “When symptoms of distress occur later in the postpartum period, families are less inclined to be looking for it and mom may be better at disguising it.”

Treatment for postpartum and maternal depression is available, effective and improving. In fact, the FDA recently approved the first-ever drug specifically indicated for postpartum depression. But as always, the trick is recognizing the symptoms.

“Our hope is that with greater awareness, we will encourage more women to speak out,” says Kleiman.