Bringing home and starting a new life with a baby is often considered one of the most amazing milestones in adulthood, so feeling any sort of sadness or dissatisfaction might make you feel ashamed or guilty. But sadness after having a baby is more common than you might think, and many women feel some extent of postpartum blues in the year after delivery.
Postpartum blues may come and go shortly in the weeks after childbirth, but postpartum depression is different. Treating postpartum depression can include some combination of psychotherapy, medication, group therapy, and family therapy. Whether in a one-on-one or group setting, talk therapy may last just a few weeks or several months or longer.
Dr. Hartstein is the owner of Hartstein Psychological Services, a group psychotherapy practice in New York City.
Dr. Michaelis is a clinical and media psychologist in New York City.
Dr. Watkins is a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital, where she's the Associate Director of The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, and was previously the Associate Training Director of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program.
References
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2022). Postpartum depression: FAQ.
American Psychological Association. (2022). Postpartum depression: Causes, symptoms, risk factors, and treatment options.
MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health. (n.d.). Postpartum psychiatric disorders.
National Institute of Health. (n.d.). Postpartum depression facts.
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