COULD I HAVE POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?

Do you . . .

 Have trouble sleeping?
 Find you're exhausted most of the time?
 Notice a decrease in your appetite?
 Worry about little things that never used to bother you?
 Wonder if you'll ever have time to yourself again?
 Think your children would be better off without you?
 Worry  that your husband will get tired of you feeling this way?
 Snap at your husband and children over everything?
 Think everyone else is a better mother than you are?
 Cry over the slightest thing?
 No longer enjoy the things you used to enjoy?
 Isolate yourself from your friends and neighbors?
 Fear leaving the house or being alone?
 Have anxiety attacks?
 Have unexplained anger?
 Have difficulty concentrating?
 Think something else is wrong with you or your marriage?
 Feel like you will always feel this way and never get better?

Many new mothers will experience some of these feelings. If you answered yes to more than three of these question, you may have postpartum depression (PPD). PPD affects 20-30% of all postpartum women. It is a real illness. It is very treatable. Do not deny yourself the opportunity to feel good again. Do not let misinformation, uncertainty, shame, finances, embarrassment, or denial get in the way of you getting the help you need. Talk to your doctor. Talk to your husband. Once you decide to seek treatment, you will be on the road to feeling better...

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) (Download PDF)
10-item, highly effective assessment tool. A score of 10-12 is considered the cut off for PPD. This is a valid and reliable screening tool that is patient friendly, easy to administer and easy to score.

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