It’s normal to feel fatigued, stressed, or anxious after having a child. It’s also common to worry about being a good parent or making the right choices for the baby and the family. New parents often experience tearfulness, a low mood, fatigue, and other symptoms for two or three weeks after childbirth.
But if feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or excessive worry persist, or if you have thoughts about harming yourself or your baby, you may have postpartum depression. It’s important to reach out for help.
It’s especially important to seek emergency help right away if you have delusions or hallucinations, paranoid thoughts, confusion, or persistent thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby. These signs can indicate postpartum psychosis, a rare but serious issue.