Mental or Behavioral Dysfunction
postpartum depression
post·par·tum de·pres·sion
Subclass of:
Puerperal Disorders;
Depressive disorder
Also called:
Post-pregnancy depression
Definitions related to depression, postpartum:
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(postpartum depression) A type of clinical depression that occurs after childbirth.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(postpartum depression) Depression in women occurring usually shortly after the delivery of a child; degree of depression ranges from mild transient depression to neurotic or psychotic depressive disorders.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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(postpartum depression) Many women have the baby blues after childbirth. If you have the baby blues, you may have mood swings, feel sad, anxious or overwhelmed, have crying spells, lose your appetite, or have trouble sleeping. The baby blues most often go away within a few days or a week. The symptoms are not severe and do not need treatment. The symptoms of postpartum depression last longer and are more severe. You may also feel hopeless and worthless and lose interest in the baby. You may have thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby. Very rarely, new mothers develop something even more serious. They may have hallucinations or try to hurt themselves or the baby. They need to get treatment right away, often in the hospital. Postpartum depression can begin anytime within the first year after childbirth. The cause is unknown. Hormonal and physical changes after birth and the stress of caring for a new baby may play a role. Women who have had depression are at higher risk. If you think you have postpartum depression, tell your health care provider. Medicines, including antidepressants, and talk therapy can help you get well. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office on Women's HealthMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Depression in POSTPARTUM WOMEN, usually within four weeks after giving birth (PARTURITION). The degree of depression ranges from mild transient depression to neurotic or psychotic depressive disorders. (From DSM-IV, p386)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(major depressive episode with peripartum onset) A major depressive episode that begins during pregnancy or within 4-6 weeks of delivery.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Postpartum depression is depressive symptoms that last > 2 weeks after delivery and that interfere with activities of daily living.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Patients and their caregivers frequently overlook postpartum depression, despite the fact that effective nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments are available for this condition. Untreated postpartum affective illness places the mother and infant at risk and is associated with significant long-term effects on child development and...WebMD, 2019
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Postpartum depression refers to the development of a depressive illness following childbirth and may form part of a bipolar or, more usually, a unipolar illness. Postpartum depression is not recognized by current classification systems as a condition in its own right, but the onset of a depressive episode within 4 weeks of childbirth can...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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Postpartum depression, depressive disorder sometimes occurring in mothers following childbirth (parturition). Postpartum depression is associated with various risk factors and can have serious consequences for affected women and their infants. Mothers affected by postpartum depression may, for...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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