Postpartum depression (PPD) is a condition that describes a range of physical and emotional changes that some mothers have after having a baby.

There are three types of PPD women can experience:

• The baby blues happens in many women during the first 3 to 5 days right after childbirth. Forty to 85% of women experience intense highs and lows as they adjust to life with a new baby. A new mother can have sudden mood swings, such as feeling very happy and then feeling very sad. The baby blues may last only a few hours or as long as 1 to 2 weeks after delivery. It does not always require treatment from a health care provider. Often, joining a support group of new moms or talking with other moms helps.

• Postpartum depression (PPD) can happen a few days or even months after childbirth. PPD affects between 10 to 28% of women. It can happen after the birth of any child, not just the first child. A woman can have feelings similar to the baby blues, but she feels them much more strongly. When a woman's ability to function is affected, this is a sure sign that she needs to see her health care provider right away. While PPD is a serious condition, it can be treated with medication and counseling.
  
  
• Postpartum psychosis is a very serious mental illness. It occurs in about one in 1,000 new mothers. This illness can happen quickly, often within the first 3 months after childbirth. Women can lose touch with reality, often having auditory and visual hallucinations (hearing and seeing things that aren't actually happening). Women who have postpartum psychosis need treatment right away and almost always need medication. This level of disorder often includes bipolar illness, schizophrenia and even organic brain syndromes.