Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?

What are Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression and how are they different?

Baby Blues are very common after childbirth. They happen during the first two weeks after giving birth. It is usually just your adjustment period to your new way of life. Baby Blues will go away on its own and doesn't require help from a doctor.

Postpartum Depression is when you have symptoms of feeling depressed, anxious, OCD, and sometimes even psychosis. These feelings continue after the first two weeks of birth and can even occur up to a year after giving birth! These symptoms interfere with your ability to function as you would like to each day. It is reported that PPD happens in about 1:7 women after they give birth. However, it is believed to be even higher than that because many women don't seek treatment or aren't able to. PPD can occur to any woman- it doesn't matter the race, age, socioeconomic, number of births, etc.

If you have any doubt at all, please reach out to your medical provider. You can also check these local resources to help find support. I'm here to help you. You can always reach me and I'm happy to help you find the treatment that you need.

Emory Hospital- Atlanta support:

http://womensmentalhealth.emory.edu/

Find a support group to meet other moms going through the same thing:

http://www.postpartum.net/locations/georgia/

Find local providers that offer therapy:

http://www.postpartumprogress.com/womens-mental-health-treatment-programs-specialists-us-canada-australia

Mental Health America of Georgia:

http://www.mhageorgia.org/maternal-infant-mental-health/

You can also check the Postpartum Support International website:

http://www.postpartum.net/

or call PSI at 1-800-944-4PPD. They have coordinators in most of the U.S. states as well as many countries around the world. Find out who your coordinator is and call or email them to get information on how to get help in your area.

Local Resources for PPD:

The Emory Women’s Mental Health Program is an academic center of excellence for the psychiatric care of women. They provide state-of-the-art care for mental illness in women with an emphasis on pregnancy, the postpartum period, and breast-feeding.

Telephone: (404) 778-5526 Fax: (404) 778-4655 Email: wmhp@emory.edu

After Hours:

For emergencies, call 911. For urgent mental health care concerns, call (404) 778-5000 and ask the clinic operator to page the psychiatrist on call.

Postpartum Support Coordinators offer caring and informed support and resources to moms and their families. They also provide information and resources for area providers who are caring for pregnant and postpartum families. Please don’t hesitate to contact them; they want to hear from you.

Elizabeth O’Brien NE Atlanta 907-378-6972 cell TEXT OR CALL elizabethobrienlpc@gmail.com

Sarah Hightower South Atlanta 404-428-4114 Voicemails can be left on my phone if I do not answer. sarah.hightower@gmail.com

Cassie Owens Dunwoody/Perimeter area 404-493-2112 CALL OR TEXT cassieowensLPC@gmail.com

Elizabeth A. Nicholson Southwest GA 404-550-3015 TEXT OR CALL Elizabeth@kout.com Bridget Cross Chatham, Effingham, Bryan Counties (Greater Savannah Area) 912-495-8549 TEXT OR CALL bridget@bridgetcrossLCSW.com

Amy Corn Forsyth, Hall, Dawson, Banks, Bartow, Pickens, Lumpkin, White Counties 678.902.4558 TEXT OR CALL amycorn.psi@gmail.com

Lydia Borja Cobb, Lumpkin, Dawson Counties (706) 873-1580 lydia.psiga@gmail.com Lydia is on leave. Please contact Amy Corn for support in these counties.