Rays of Hope                                        1-800-501-3053

MYTHS:

• Only weak women get Postpartum Depression (PPD)

• PPD is for rich women

• I am too busy to get PPD

• This happening because I am too young to be a Mom

• If I have PPD, I must not be a good Mom

• Only Caucasian women get PPD

The truth is that STRONG women, OLDER women, POOR women, SUPER BUSY women, FANTASTIC mothers, and AFRICAN-AMERICAN, HISPANIC, ASIAN, and all races of women are vulnerable to, and do suffer from Postpartum Depression. 

The common factor for all of these women is the genetic compound that makes a woman, a woman, and thus vulnerable to Postpartum Depression.

Risk factors include:

• A personal or family history of depression
• Previous hormonal problems such as PMS                                 
• Difficult pregnancy or birth experience
• Unplanned pregnancy
• Trauma induced pregnancy, such as Rape
• Previous experience with Postpartum Depression
• If you feel unsupported by your partner
• If you are going through a separation or divorce
• If you have recently experienced the death of a loved one
• If a loved one is seriously ill
• If you have recently experienced transitions such as moving or changing jobs
• If you are experiencing a lot of stress.

PLEASE NOTE:  It is possible to have many of these risk factors and still not suffer from Postpartum Depression.  It is also possible to have none of these risk factors and still suffer from Postpartum Depression. 

REMEMBER, Postpartum Depression is a medical illness influenced by hormonal changes and chemical imbalances experienced during pregnancy and the postpartum period.