Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

If you think you are experiencing postpartum depression or "baby blues" after giving birth, OB/GYN Alexandra "Sashi" Band, DO, explains when you should reach out for help. Dr. Band explains that women can experience postpartum depression in the first few days postpartum, but it can also happen in that transition point two weeks postpartum and moving forward. "The time when people really should be reaching out for help is one, when they find that they don't want to engage with their baby. Two, that they are not caring for themselves. Three, that their predominant emotion is anxiety or sadness, or that they feel no emotion at all, but most importantly, if anyone ever has thought of hurting themselves or hurting their baby or anyone around them, that is an extremely important time to reach out."

Dr. Band says that postpartum depression was not talked about a lot for previous generations, but what we see is as more and more people talk about their experiences with postpartum depression, more people are coming forward and looking for help.

If you've found yourself feeling sad, lonely or tired shortly after giving birth, know that you're not alone, and our team of experts is here to help. Taking care of your health is crucial, not just for your well-being but for the well-being of your whole family. For decades, Ochsner has made it our mission to empower women across the Gulf South with the information, resources, services and treatment choices you need to stay as healthy as you can possibly be.

You can rely on our team of OB/GYNs to make sure that you are comfortable and receive the care you need during your visit at Ochsner. If you’ve found yourself feeling sad, lonely or tired shortly after giving birth, know that you’re not alone, and our team of experts is here to help.