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Mothers sometimes have a mood disorder after childbirth called a postpartum mood disorder. Mothers with a more significant chance of having postpartum mood disorders are single, lack social support, have an unwanted pregnancy, have fewer visits or late visits with their obstetrician, have serious stressors with finances or marriage troubles, and deliver babies with low birth weight. Mood disorders after childbirth have three distinct categories: "baby blues," postpartum depression (PPD) and postpartum psychosis.

Fifty to eighty percent of mothers experience "baby blues" or mild depression after delivery of their baby. This consists of symptoms such as weepiness, feelings of sadness or vulnerability, anxiety, irritability, and insomnia. These symptoms peak between postpartum days three and five and typically resolve within 24 to 72 hours. The primary treatment is supportive care and reassurance of the passing nature of the condition. The next category of postpartum mood disorder is postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression is recognized as a unique and serious complication of childbirth, complicating 10% to 15% of all deliveries and 26% to 32% of all adolescent deliveries. The majority of patients suffer from this illness for more than six months and, if untreated, 25% of patients are still depressed a year later. Symptoms of the disorder include loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping or staying asleep, absence of interest in the newborn and lack of interest in day-to-day routines. Since these patients often suffer from suicidal thoughts, the consequences of this disease to both mother and child are significant. Treatment usually includes using antidepressants, depending on whether the mother is nursing, and undergoing individual or group therapy. Hospitalization of a mother in the early postpartum period increases the incidence of emotional disturbance in children.

The last category of postpartum mood disorder is postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis affects an even smaller percentage of postpartum women, about 1 in 1,000. It occurs two or three weeks after birth. In early July, a young mother, Andrea Yates, drowned her five young children including her six-month old newborn baby girl. Mrs. Yates may have had postpartum psychosis. The symptoms include hallucinations, delusions about the baby, many times of a religious nature, severe insomnia, mania or inability to stop activity, extreme agitation, confusion, and suicidal and homicidal thoughts. This rare form of postpartum mood disorder is more likely to occur in women who have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or if a family member has experienced these diseases. These women will need to be treated in a medical facility with medications and other forms of treatment. The good news is that the illness frequently responds quickly to treatment.

Talking to a few mothers about postpartum mood disorders, they described their experiences as mostly the "Baby Blues." Mrs. Frey, a psychiatric nurse (RN), had often felt anxious and nervous when she was raising her first-born, Danny, alone. Mrs. Kanakis, a college counselor, felt lost expectations after birth, anxiety, and a torrent of hormones. My cousin Althea felt the baby blues and gained weight from overeating as a result.

If diagnosed early and treated correctly, there should be no reason to worry. Marie Osmond wrote an expose about her experiences with PPD in her book, Behind This Smile, co-written by Marva Wilke, and Judith Moore, MD, proving PPD is not incurable.

Women overcoming postpartum mood disorders most often succeed when using prescribed medications, seeing a doctor and therapist, having support groups and especially a close family and friend network. It is important that they rest, and avoid too much stress. They can share the burden of taking care of the baby with their spouse. Talking to other mothers to share experiences can help. Some people recommend pampering yourself with pedicures, manicures, beauty baths, naps, facials, (whatever your heart so positively desires).