CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

You’re at Risk for Postpartum Depression Much Longer Than You Think​

save article
profile picture of Anisa Arsenault
By Anisa Arsenault, Associate Editor
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Thinkstock/The Bump

If you’ve made it through the first year of motherhood relatively unscathed, congratulations! It’s a trying time for your mental health, sometimes tainted by baby blues or postpartum depression. But a new study out of Australia warns you might not be in the clear yet. In fact, maternal depression is more common at four years following childbirth than at any time during the first year.

This may sound a little doom-and-gloom. But the point is that it’s normal to feel down even as your baby enters toddlerhood — and if you find yourself that way, you’re absolutely not alone. The study, published in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that 1 in 3 women reported depressive symptoms during the first four years of motherhood, and that the prevalence of those symptoms was 14.5% at the 4 year mark. That’s higher than depression reported at any other time during the first year of baby’s birth.

Some women were more likely to have this later postpartum depression than others. Risk factors included being previously depressed, being a younger mom (18-24 years old), experiencing partner abuse, or undergoing stressful life events.

Is this preventable? Not entirely. But it’s important to do some self-checks for signs, so you can identify any problems early. It’s a serious medical condition experienced by 10 to 15 percent of new moms, and may require therapy and/or medication. If depression, irritability, and lack of interest or focus do not subside in a few weeks, your OB is the best starting point for help.

As Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, previously told The Bump, you should seek help if you’re already feeling depressed during pregnancy. One of the most proactive things you can do is become part of a supportive community. Take prenatal classes, or hop in any of our Bump Community Boards.

The authors of the Australian study are ultimately calling for more research, and more resources for monitoring moms’ mental health. It’s a serious issue, and seeking help is the right move for you and your family.

Have you experienced postpartum depression?

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

depressed mother holding newborn baby at home
Women With Autoimmune Diseases at Higher Risk of Postpartum Depression
By Wyndi Kappes
mother massaging baby feet
Participating in Baby Massage Lessens Postpartum Depression Symptoms
By Wyndi Kappes
mom holding newborn baby at home
First Pill to Treat Postpartum Depression Set to Cost $15,900
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Britney Spears arrives for the premiere of Sony Pictures' "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California on July 22, 2019
Britney Spears Reflects on Postpartum Depression in New Memoir
By Wyndi Kappes
dad holding crying baby at home
Dads Should Be Screened for Postpartum Depression Too, Study Says
By Wyndi Kappes
the mom therapist postpartum math reel
Postpartum Math: Therapist’s Reel Addresses New Mom Struggles
By Wyndi Kappes
mother and baby smiling and cuddling
10 Actionable Ways to Boost Your Postpartum Mental Health
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Kylie Jenner attends the 2022 Baby2Baby Gala presented by Paul Mitchell at Pacific Design Center on November 12, 2022 in West Hollywood, California
Kylie Jenner Encourages Postpartum Moms to ‘Stay Inside That Moment’
By Wyndi Kappes
Illustrations of disney princesses postpartum
Artist Reimagines Disney Princesses as Relatable Postpartum Parents
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of mother holding baby
How the New National Maternal Mental Health Taskforce Will Help Moms
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Elyse Myers attends TikTok House Party at VidCon 2022 at a private venue on June 23, 2022 in Anaheim, California
Elyse Myers Shares How Her Postpartum Struggles Led to Her First Video
By Wyndi Kappes
mother holding newborn baby's head
New Discovery Could Revolutionize How We Treat Postpartum Depression
By Wyndi Kappes
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are expecting their second baby.
Kylie Jenner's Story Reminds Us All Postpartum Journeys Are Different
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
mother holding newborn baby in hospital bed after giving birth
8 Ways Black Moms Can Lower Their Risk of Postpartum Depression
By Ericka Sóuter
mother lying with newborn baby in bed at home
These States Join a Growing List Offering a Full Year of Postpartum Care
By Wyndi Kappes
baby twins in mother's lap on bed
New Study Identifies Women at Highest Risk of Postpartum Depression
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman doing yoga
Study: Yoga and Mindfulness Can Help Prevent Postpartum Depression
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
What to Expect Emotionally After Birth
What to Expect Emotionally After Birth
By Yelena Moroz Alpert
writer posing with her newborn and husband
I’m an OB and I Suffered From Postpartum Depression
By Temeka Zore, MD
actress reese witherspoon opens up about her struggles with postpartum depression
Reese Witherspoon Opens Up About Struggle With Postpartum Depression
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List