Postpartum depression: signs, help and the numbers to call

Common, treatable and nothing to do with how much you love your baby.

Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026

In short

The baby blues start a few days after birth and usually lift within 2 weeks. Postpartum depression lasts longer or feels heavier, can begin in pregnancy or up to a year after birth, and affects about 1 in 7 women in the US. It is treatable with talking therapy, medication or both. In the US, call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA; in the UK, call 111 or Samaritans on 116 123.

Is this normal? When to call

Normal: tearful, anxious, up-and-down days in the first two weeks. Not something to wait out: low mood or worry most of the time beyond two weeks, or anything that frightens you. Call your midwife, GP or OB-GYN. Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby: call 911 (US) or 999 (UK) now.

If you need help right now

Where you are	Who to contact	When
US	911	Immediate danger to you or your baby
US	988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, call or text	Free, confidential, 24/7
US	1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262), National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, call or text	Free, 24/7, English and Spanish
UK	999 or go to A&E	Immediate danger of harm
UK	NHS 111, choose the mental health option	Urgent help when you are unsure where to go
UK	Samaritans 116 123	Free from any phone, day or night

If you are deaf or hard of hearing in the US, the Office on Women's Health says you can use your relay service or dial 711 then the number.

Baby blues or postpartum depression?

	Baby blues	Postpartum depression
Starts	About 2 to 3 days after birth	Most often 1 to 3 weeks after birth, but anytime in pregnancy or up to a year after
Lasts	A few days to 2 weeks	Longer than 2 weeks, or gets worse
Feels like	Tearful, anxious, irritable, moods that come and go	Low mood or worry most of the time, hard to cope day to day
What helps	Rest, food, support, time	Professional care: talking therapy, medication or both

Sources: ACOG and NHS.

Symptoms to take seriously

The NHS lists, among others:

feeling fearful, anxious or worrying all the time;
difficulty sleeping, even when you get the chance to rest;
difficulty concentrating or making decisions;
difficult feelings about your baby, or finding it hard to bond.

You do not need to "score" a certain number of symptoms to deserve help. If you are struggling to cope, that is enough.

How common is it, really?

March of Dimes estimates that postpartum depression affects about 1 in 7 women in the United States. In a study of 10,000 mothers screened by phone 4 to 6 weeks after birth, 14% screened positive. Among those who were then assessed, more episodes had started after the birth (40%) than during pregnancy (33%), which is why the year after birth matters as much as the weeks right after it (Wisner et al., JAMA Psychiatry 2013).

How treatment works

Talking therapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In England, if you are 18 or over (16 in some areas) you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP.
Antidepressants, which ACOG notes can take 3 to 4 weeks to start helping. Many are compatible with breastfeeding: tell your prescriber how you feed your baby.
A newer option in the US: ACOG describes zuranolone as the first FDA-approved oral medication specifically for postpartum depression in adults, taken for 14 days. Whether it suits you, and how it fits with breastfeeding, is a conversation for your OB.
Specialist perinatal teams in the UK care for mothers from pregnancy to 12 months after birth.

Postpartum psychosis is an emergency

Postpartum psychosis is rare, around 1 in 1,000 mothers according to the NHS, and different from depression. It usually starts suddenly within the first 2 weeks, sometimes within hours or days of the birth. Signs include hallucinations, feeling very confused, delusions (fears or beliefs that are unlikely to be true), or a very "high", overactive mood. Call 999 or 911, or go to the emergency department. With treatment, most people make a full recovery.

For your partner

You may notice the change before she does.

Watch for low mood, constant worry, not sleeping even when the baby sleeps, or pulling away.
Say what you see, kindly. "You seem really low. Shall we call the midwife together?"
Make the call with her, or for her. Go to the appointment if she wants you there.
Take night shifts and practical jobs so she can rest.
Look after yourself too: the NHS notes that fathers and partners can also have depression after a baby.
If she talks about harming herself or the baby, or seems confused or very "high", call 911 or 999.

Small things that make room for recovery

Tell one person exactly how you feel, in plain words. The NHS suggests a friend, family member, health professional or counsellor.
Get as much sleep and rest as you can, as the NHS puts it: let someone else take the baby while you nap.
Avoid alcohol or drugs to cope, which the NHS advises against.
Bring this page to your postpartum check, and say out loud how you have been feeling.
However you feed your baby, and whether you stay home or go back to work, needing help is not a failure. It is a health need, like any other.

If you are supporting a new mother, the postpartum hub has the warning signs and care calendar in one place.

Questions parents ask

How long do the baby blues last?

ACOG says the baby blues start about 2 to 3 days after birth and usually get better within a few days or 1 to 2 weeks without treatment. The NHS gives the same 2-week marker. Feelings that last longer or get worse deserve a call to your midwife, GP or OB.

When does postpartum depression start?

It most commonly starts about 1 to 3 weeks after childbirth, according to ACOG, but it can begin during pregnancy or at any point up to a year after birth.

Can partners get postpartum depression?

Yes. The NHS notes that fathers and partners can also have depression after having a baby, and the same routes to help apply.

Can I take treatment while breastfeeding?

The NHS says many antidepressants are safe to use while breastfeeding. Tell your doctor you are breastfeeding so they can choose a suitable medicine with you.

Sources

NHS, Postnatal depression checked October 13, 2026
ACOG, Postpartum depression (FAQ) checked October 13, 2026
Office on Women's Health (HHS), Postpartum depression and the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline checked October 13, 2026
NIMH, Perinatal depression checked October 13, 2026
March of Dimes, Postpartum depression (1 in 7 women in the US) checked October 13, 2026
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline checked October 13, 2026
NHS, Postpartum psychosis checked October 13, 2026
NHS, Where to get urgent help for mental health checked October 13, 2026
Samaritans, Contact us (116 123, free, 24 hours) checked October 13, 2026
Wisner KL et al., Onset timing, thoughts of self-harm, and diagnoses in postpartum women with screen-positive depression findings, JAMA Psychiatry 2013 (PMID 23487258) checked October 13, 2026

Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.

If it helps, there is also an ebook on this: The Fourth Trimester: Your Recovery After Birth, Week by Week