On the first day of Dismissmas,

Postpartum sent to me

A wailing mess in a pear tree.

Many mothers struggling with Postpartum Depression are not weeping, wailing, messes. Instead they may find themselves struggling with anxiety, irritability, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, jealousy of the other parent, a loss of desire for previously held hobbies or interests, etc. Also important to note here that a mom with a Postpartum Mood Disorder may be perfectly capable of putting on a mask to fool others (and herself) into thinking she is perfectly normal.

The baby blues may cause random bouts of crying or mood swings for the first two to four weeks after delivery for some new moms. If these symptoms get worse during or do not dissipate after the first month after giving birth, please reach out for help. 1 in 8 new moms go on to develop a full blown Postpartum Mood & Anxiety Disorder. You can get in touch with an ever growing network of knowledgeable moms and professionals through Postpartum Support International. PSI can be reached via their website or their warmline at 1-800-944-4PPD.