postpartum depression

American  

[pohst-pahrtuhm di-presh-uhn] / ˈpoʊstˌpɑrtəm dɪˈprɛʃ ən /

noun

1. Psychiatry. clinical depression in a mother, beginning shortly after giving birth and typically lasting from weeks to months, due partly to the hormonal disruption caused by childbirth and the psychological challenge posed by the sudden change in role and identity: characterized variously by withdrawal, low self-image, failure to bond with one’s infant, lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, etc.

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Etymology

Origin of postpartum depression

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

New dads face psychological pressures, from sleepless nights to sky-high bills, which can contribute to postpartum depression.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Distinct from postpartum depression and the baby blues, conditions that are pervasive and persistent, D-MER is episodic, flaring and disappearing within minutes, completely related to the act of breastfeeding.

From Slate • Mar. 15, 2026

This could help not just with pregnancy in general, but also when things go wrong, including postpartum depression, she says.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

No character in film this year has sparked more conversation than Perfidia, who rats out members of the French 75 to avoid prison and abandons her daughter in the haze of postpartum depression.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025

She had probably had postpartum depression at the very least, Mia realized, perhaps even a postpartum psychotic break.

From "Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng