Postpartum depression also known as postnatal depression is a kind of clinical depression that affects women after the birth of a child. The various significant studies or reports show that the prevalent rate of this kind of depression rates among the women from 5% to 25%.

Maternity Blues-A Mild Depressive State!

Maternity blues or baby blues refer to the transitory or mild mood swings by which 80% of women suffered after pregnancy.  In some cases fathers also suffer from maternity blues or baby blues.  The symptoms of this depression last from a period of few hours to several days.  They include irritability, tearfulness, sleeplessness, hypochondriasis,   concentration impairment, headache and isolation.  The baby or maternity blues don’t have the same nature as postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

These symptoms may occur anytime at the very first year postpartum. They include:

* Sadness
* Low self-esteem
* Hopelessness
* Sleep disturbances
* Guilt
* Inability to be comforted
* Eating disturbances
* Emptiness
* Inability to enjoy things one previously enjoyed
* Social withdrawal
* Becoming easily frustrated
* Feeling inadequate in taking care of the baby (or feeling like one cannot take care of the baby
* Low energy
* Exhaustion

Risk Factors Of Postpartum Depression

There are thirteen factors that are considered as significant predictors of Postpartum Depression. They are:

* Low self esteem 
* Prenatal anxiety
* Childcare stress
* Low social support
* History of previous depression
* Poor marital relationship
* Life stress
* Maternity blues
* Low socioeconomic status 
* Infant temperament problems
* Single parent
* Unplanned or unwanted pregnancy

Some women suffering from Postpartum Depression believe that they aren’t able to take good care of their baby. Some are worried that they might create problem for their baby or can even harm them. It’s really important to understand the normal postpartum emotional changes. Don’t think too much and try not to have feelings that something may be amiss. If you’re really at trouble by your thinking just consult your physician for the immediate help.

Clinical depression also known as unipolar depression or major depressive disorder is a psychiatric disorder, generally characterized by diffused low mood, lack or loss of interest in any kind of activity or pleasure. Depression is a mood one is feeling completely blue.

Chronic Depression

Chronic depression is really serious as it often disables the condition of the person being affected by it.
The course of depression varies widely from person to person.
It can happen once in a life-time or can have multiple recurrences that appear gradually or suddenly.
It can last for an only a period of few months or can actually be there as a life-long disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Depression

The term depression has a variety of signs or symptoms. They are:

* Persistent anxious or sad, or gloomy mood
* Loss of weight or appetite.
* Patients get prone to insomnia, oversleeping or early-morning awakening.
* Irritability or restlessness.
* Feelings of helplessness, inappropriate guilt or worthlessness.
* Feelings of pessimism or hopelessness.
* Inabilities to think, remember, concentrate, or make decisions.
* Suicidal tendency or always thinking about death.
* Complete loss of enjoyment, pleasure or interest in usual activities.
* Having low spirits always or being sluggish.
* Headaches, chronic pain and digestive disorders.
* Major Depression

Major depression persists for the whole two weeks as it indicates the severe mood of the person affected. . The episodes of this type of depression may be recurrent or isolated. They can be further categorized as mild, severe or major. The Diagnosticians actually recognize the different subtypes of the depression that is severe or major:

Depression with melancholic features – It indicates loss of pleasure, an engrossed depressed mood, early morning waking, anorexia or psychomotor retardation.
Depression with Psychotic Features – Some people who are affected by this major depression may experience common psychotic features. They include delusions or hallucinations.
Depression with atypical features – It is characterized by the reactivity of mood swings, weight gain or increased appetite, excessive sleep, or leaden paralysis etc.

It is quite possible for a person to be affected by these subtypes of depression. As the person loss pleasure in the usual activities or all of a sudden tends to over-eating and gains weight. So all would one need is to try to make himself feel light and remove the level of depression by best medicine and laughter.