Symptoms Prenatal and Postpartum Depression (PPD) describes a number of feelings/symptoms that may occur during the perinatal period - from pregnancy through the first year following childbirth.  Having PPD does not mean you must feel depressed or "down."  It is different in everyone it touches, but most share symptoms. With the exception of the "Baby Blues," PPD is often the umbrella term encompassing all of the following perinatal mood disorders.  The list below is adapted with permission from the book Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression, Shoshana S.Bennett, Ph.D. & Pec Indman, Ed.D., MFT, Moodswings Press, 2003.

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Baby Blues	Prenatal / Postpartum Depression or Anxiety	Obsessive Compulsive Disorder	Panic Disorder	Psychosis*	Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- 80% of new moms - begins in the 1st week after childbirth - may last a week or two, but will subside on its own Symptoms: - Weepiness - Sadness - Anxiety - Mood Instability - Lack of concentration	- 15-20% of new moms - onset anytime from pregnancy thru the 1st year after childbirth Symptoms: - Excessive worry - Difficulty making decisions; feeling overwhelmed, can't "think straight" - Sleep difficulties - cannot/too much - Feelings of sadness, guilt, hopelessness, phobias - Physical symptoms/complaints without apparent cause - Discomfort or detachment around the baby - Changes in appetite - Loss of interest or pleasure	Symptoms: - Intrusive, repetitive, persistent thoughts - Thoughts of hurting or killing the baby - Tremendous sense of horror and disgust of these thoughts often accompanied by avoidance behaviors in  order to cope (hiding knives, for example) - Repetitive behaviors - counting, cleaning	Symptoms: - Periods of extreme anxiety - Difficulty breathing, chest pain, feelings of choking or smothering - Hot/cold flashes, shaking, numbness, palpitations - Fears of dying, going crazy - Restlessness, irritability - Excessive worry, including fear of more panic attacks	- Rare: 1-2 per 1000 - Typical onset 2-3 days postpartum - 5% suicide rate, 4% infanticide rate Symptoms: - Hallucinations - Delusional thinking - Delirium, mania     *REQUIRES   IMMEDIATE  MEDICAL  CARE	Symptoms - Recurrent nightmares - Extreme Anxiety - Reliving past traumatic events (for example, childbirth, emotional, sexual or physical)