postpartum depression

[pohst-pahrtuhm di-presh-uhn]

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of postpartum depression¹

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Now that the process has come to an end and the movie is about to be released, the director jokes he's "now in postpartum depression".

From BBC

A former New Yorker uprooted to the countryside, Grace suffers from a postpartum depression that makes her feel like like a dreary wraith.

From Los Angeles Times

When I was flattened by postpartum depression and had a terrifying health misdiagnosis, Mark was there; the aligned presence was now more like a pillar holding me upright.

From Los Angeles Times

Myriad issues can emerge or become exacerbated in a family after a baby is born, including maternal postpartum depression, sleep problems, attachment issues between caregivers and children, early signs of behavioral challenges, domestic conflict between parents, and housing insecurity that often worsens as a family grows.

From Los Angeles Times

This would leave millions of women uninsured at a critical time when they are vulnerable to postpartum depression, infections, hypertension, and other life-threatening complications.

From Salon