Postpartum Depression & Anhedonia

Anhedonia | an•he•do•ni•a: inability to feel pleasure.

This is the key symptom we look for when evaluating for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), specifically postpartum depression (PPD).

Identifying PPD in the early days after childbirth can be difficult due to the commonly experienced “baby blues”, wherein 60-80% of mothers report symptoms of tearfulness, emotional lability, heightened reactivity and irritability.

’The blues’ occur in response to plummeting estrogen and progesterone levels after birth, coupled with extreme exhaustion and the pressures of new motherhood. This condition typically peaks between 3-5 days after delivery and should resolve after the first two weeks.

And here’s the thing, a reported 1 in 7 mothers are likely to experience a PMAD in the first year after birth, while only a small fraction of those actually receive treatment. This leaves the majority of mothers suffering alone, and without proper care.

If you or someone you love is struggling with the emotional turbulence of motherhood, you are not alone. Seek out help from a licensed mental health provider with special training in PMAD for support.