What is ppd

PPD istypically an agitated depression, with symptoms of both depression and anxiety. When depressive symptoms dominate, we refer to it as postpartum depression. When anxiety is the compelling symptom, we refer to it as a postpartum anxiety disorder. Postpartum anxiety disorders include postpartum panic , postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder and postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder. Some experts are now comfortable using the term postpartum distress to encompass both symptoms of depression and anxiety.

You will get a small shot injection that contains PPD. The needle is gently placed under the top layer of skin, causing a bump welt to form. This bump usually goes away in a few hours as the material is absorbed. After 48 to 72 hours, you must return to your provider's office. Your provider will check the area to see if you have had a strong reaction to the test.

Tell your provider if you have ever had a positive PPD skin test. If so, you should not have a repeat PPD test, except under unusual circumstances. Tell your provider if you have a medical condition or if you take certain medicines, such as steroids, which can affect your immune system. These situations may lead to inaccurate test results.

Tell your provider if you have received the BCG vaccine and if so, when you received it. This vaccine is only given outside of the United States. TB is an easily spread contagious disease. It most often affects the lungs. Signs and symptoms may include:. Postpartum psychosis may lead to life-threatening thoughts or behaviors and requires immediate treatment. New fathers can experience postpartum depression, too. Fathers who are young, have a history of depression, experience relationship problems or are struggling financially are most at risk of postpartum depression.

If you're a new father and are experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety during your partner's pregnancy or in the first year after your child's birth, talk to your health care professional. Similar treatments and supports provided to mothers with postpartum depression can be beneficial in treating postpartum depression in fathers.

If you're feeling depressed after your baby's birth, you may be reluctant or embarrassed to admit it. But if you experience any symptoms of postpartum baby blues or postpartum depression, call your doctor and schedule an appointment. If you have symptoms that suggest you may have postpartum psychosis, get help immediately. It's important to call your doctor as soon as possible if the signs and symptoms of depression have any of these features:.

If at any point you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, immediately seek help from your partner or loved ones in taking care of your baby and call or your local emergency assistance number to get help.

People with depression may not recognize or acknowledge that they're depressed. They may not be aware of signs and symptoms of depression. If you suspect that a friend or loved one has postpartum depression or is developing postpartum psychosis, help them seek medical attention immediately.

Don't wait and hope for improvement. There's no single cause of postpartum depression, but physical and emotional issues may play a role. Any new mom can experience postpartum depression and it can develop after the birth of any child, not just the first. However, your risk increases if:. Left untreated, postpartum depression can interfere with mother-child bonding and cause family problems.

If you have a history of depression — especially postpartum depression — tell your doctor if you're planning on becoming pregnant or as soon as you find out you're pregnant. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

If you have signs or symptoms of PPD, talk to your provider about treatment. What is postpartum depression? Is PPD the same as the baby blues? What are the signs and symptoms of PPD? Signs and symptoms of PPD include: Changes in your feelings: Feeling depressed most of the day every day Feeling shame, guilt or like a failure Feeling panicked or scared a lot of the time Having severe mood swings Changes in your everyday life: Having little interest in things you normally like to do Feeling tired all the time Eating a lot more or a lot less than is normal for you Gaining or losing weight Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much Having trouble concentrating or making decisions Changes in how you think about yourself or your baby: Having trouble bonding with your baby Thinking about hurting yourself or your baby Thinking about suicide killing yourself If you think you have signs or symptoms of PPD, call your health care provider right away.

Can PPD affect your baby? If PPD is untreated: You may skip your postpartum checkups and not follow instructions from your health care provider.

You may find it hard to bond with your baby. Your baby may not breastfeed long. PPD may make it hard for you and your baby to get used to breastfeeding. Breast milk is the best food for your baby through the first year of life. Your baby may not get medical care he needs. You may not see health problems in your baby that need quick attention and care.

It may be hard for you to get your baby regular well-baby care , like vaccinations. Vaccinations help protect your baby from harmful infections. Your baby may have learning, behavior and development problems and mental health conditions later in life. What causes PPD? Possible causes include: Genes. Genes are passed from parents to children. Depression is more common is people whose family members have depression. This is called a family history of depression.

Changing hormone levels after pregnancy. Hormones are chemicals in your body. Some help control your emotions and mood. During pregnancy, your body has higher levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. But in the first 24 hours after giving birth, these hormones quickly go back to their normal levels.

This rapid drop in hormone levels may lead to PPD. Low levels of thyroid hormones. The thyroid is a gland in your neck that helps your body use and store energy from food. Are you at risk for PPD? Or you have a family history of depression or mental health conditions. Or you have problems with your partner, including domestic violence also called intimate partner violence or IPV. You have stress in your life, like being separated from your partner, the death of a loved one or an illness that affects you or a loved one.

You have diabetes. Diabetes can be pre-existing diabetes also called pregestational. This is diabetes you have before pregnancy.

Or it can be gestational diabetes. This is a kind of diabetes that some women get during pregnancy. You have complications during pregnancy, like premature birth , being pregnant with multiples , birth defects and pregnancy loss. Premature birth is when your baby is born too early, before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

Birth defects are health conditions that can change the shape or function of one or more parts of the body. Birth defects can cause problems in overall health, how the body develops or how the body works. Pregnancy loss is when your baby dies before birth. You smoke , drink alcohol or use harmful drugs. You have trouble breastfeeding or caring for your baby. Or your baby is sick or has health conditions. Or you have negative thoughts about being a mom and are having trouble adjusting to being a mom.

Can PPD be prevented? The Task Force recommends counseling for women with one or more of these risk factors: Current signs and symptoms of depression A history of depression or other mental health condition Being pregnant as a teenager or being a single mom Having stressful life circumstances, like low income Being a victim of IPV The Task Force recommends two kinds of counseling to prevent PPD for women at increased risk: Cognitive behavioral therapy also called CBT.

CBT helps you manage negative thoughts by changing the way you think and act.