What is the emotional condition characterized by feelings of sadness and anxiety after childbirth called?

The emotional condition characterized by feelings of sadness and anxiety after childbirth is known as postpartum depression. This condition extends beyond the temporary mood changes often experienced shortly after delivery. Postpartum depression can significantly affect a mother’s ability to care for her newborn and maintain her own well-being.

The symptoms typically include profound feelings of sadness, fatigue, and anxiety, which can manifest weeks to months after childbirth. It is important to differentiate postpartum depression from postpartum blues, which are generally temporary mood swings experienced by new mothers shortly after delivery and typically resolve within a few days or weeks.

Maternal anxiety, while present in many new mothers, is more related to the worries and stress surrounding parenting rather than the deep-seated depression that characterizes postpartum depression. Gestational depression is not a recognized term for a postpartum condition; rather, it refers to anxiety or depression that may occur during pregnancy.

Understanding postpartum depression is crucial as it requires appropriate psychological support and treatment to help mothers cope and recover effectively, ensuring both their health and that of their child.