Postpartum Depression Without Shame: What Happens to a Mother

After giving birth, it seems like only one thing is expected of you: happiness. But inside — tears for no reason, emptiness, irritation with loved ones, and a feeling that you're not coping with what you're "supposed" to do easily. If this sounds like you, know this: many mothers know this state, and it says nothing about weakness or about you being a bad mother. It says you need help — including help from a professional.

What Happens to a Mother After Birth

After birth, almost everything changes at once. Your body is recovering, sleep is broken into short fragments, hormones are shifting, and demands on you grow from day one. You're simultaneously healing, feeding, learning to understand a new person, and making decisions no one prepared you for.