Those hormone changes may produce chemical changes in the brain that play a part in causing depression. Feeling depressed doesn't mean that you're a bad person, or that you did something wrong or that you brought this on yourself. It's hard to say. Women who have more severe symptoms of depression or who have had depression in the past may take longer to get well. Just remember that help is available and that you can get better.
Postpartum depression is treated much like any other depression.
If you take an antidepressant medicine, it will go into your breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the risks of taking an antidepressant while breast-feeding. Your doctor can decide which medicine may be best for you to use while nursing your baby. If you have given birth recently and are feeling sad, blue, anxious, irritable, tired or have any of the other symptoms mentioned here, remember that many other women have had the same experience. Get in touch with people who can help you with child care, household chores and errands.