Common postpartum depression symptoms

It’s normal to feel weepy, exhausted and overwhelmed for several days after giving birth, but here are some symptoms to watch out for that could indicate postpartum depression.

Emotional symptoms:

• Extreme sadness, depression, anxiety or guilt
• Frequent, uncontrollable crying spells
• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
• Bizarre, frightening or suicidal thoughts
• Resenting the baby and other family members
• Severe changes in sleep or appetite
• Feeling extremely restless, out of control, or lethargic
• Difficulty concentrating
• Withdrawal from family, friends and social situations
• Obsessive concern for baby, or none at all
• Inability to cope

Physical symptoms:

• Weakness
• Feeling flushed
• Gas, constipation or diarrhea
• Headaches
• Panic attacks: numbness, tingling in limbs, chest pain, hyperventilation, and heart palpitations

Worried you might have PPD?

Take the 10-question Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale quiz here - http://www.psymed.info/default.aspx?m=Test&id=71&l=3