14: Postpartum Depression

You are probably thinking, Depression?  I won’t be depressed!  I am going to be so happy when my baby arrives, postpartum depression is not something I need to worry about.  Not exactly.  After the birth of your baby, your hormone levels drop quickly.  Remember those pesky hormones estrogen and progesterone that drive you crazy in the first trimester?  A major drop in these after birth leads to chemical changes in the brain that can trigger mood swings.  When you combine major drops in hormone levels with a lack of sleep, your body working to recover from labor and birth, and the stress of caring for a newborn you have the perfect storm to be bummed out.  From the baby blues to postpartum depression this episode breaks down everything you need to know.