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A little support, every step of the way.
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Learn about PPD & PPA
What it is, what's normal, what to watch for
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Crisis line, therapy options, and next steps
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Understanding what you're going through
PPD is a mood disorder that can affect women after childbirth. It's more than the "baby blues" — it's a persistent sadness, emptiness, or disconnection that makes daily life hard. It affects roughly 1 in 7 new mothers and is not a character flaw or a sign of being a bad mother. It is a medical condition, and it is very treatable.
Baby blues are very common (up to 80% of moms), start within a few days after birth, and usually resolve on their own within 2 weeks. Symptoms include weepiness, mood swings, and feeling overwhelmed.
PPD lasts longer than 2 weeks, is more intense, and interferes with your ability to function. If you're still struggling at 2 weeks postpartum or feel like things are getting worse rather than better — that's a signal to reach out to your OB or midwife.
PPD lasts longer than 2 weeks, is more intense, and interferes with your ability to function. If you're still struggling at 2 weeks postpartum or feel like things are getting worse rather than better — that's a signal to reach out to your OB or midwife.
PPA is actually more common than PPD, but less talked about. Symptoms include constant worry, racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing, feeling on edge, and physical symptoms like a pounding heart or shortness of breath. Many women with PPA don't "feel depressed" — they just feel like something is terribly wrong, even when it's not. PPA is real, common, and treatable.
It can feel hard to say the words out loud. You can start simple:
"I haven't been feeling like myself since having the baby."
"I've been really anxious and I'm having a hard time."
Your OB has heard this before. You won't shock them. You won't be judged. You will get help. It's okay to bring this up at any visit.
"I haven't been feeling like myself since having the baby."
"I've been really anxious and I'm having a hard time."
Your OB has heard this before. You won't shock them. You won't be judged. You will get help. It's okay to bring this up at any visit.
No. With treatment — which can include therapy, medication, support groups, or a combination — the overwhelming majority of women recover fully. Most start feeling significantly better within weeks of starting treatment. Recovery is real and it happens. You deserve to feel well.
Small things that help
Breathing
4-7-8 calming breath
Breathe in for 4 counts, hold for 7, exhale slowly for 8. Repeat 3–4 times. This activates your nervous system's rest response and can ease anxiety within minutes.
Rest
Permission to rest
Rest is not laziness — it is medicine right now. You don't have to earn it. If someone offers to help, let them. If the dishes sit, they can wait. Your body and mind need recovery just as much as they did after any major event.
Movement
5-minute gentle walk
Even 5 minutes outside — baby in tow or alone — can meaningfully shift your mood. Sunlight, fresh air, and gentle movement all signal to your brain that you are safe and things are okay.
Connection
Text one person today
Isolation makes everything harder. You don't have to explain everything — even a "thinking of you" or a meme to a friend counts. Connection doesn't have to be big to matter.
Nourishment
Eat something real today
Blood sugar crashes amplify anxiety and low mood. Even if you don't feel hungry, try to have something with protein — eggs, nuts, cheese, yogurt. You are feeding more than a body right now.
Mindfulness
Name 5 things you can see
A grounding exercise for moments when anxiety or overwhelm spikes. Slowly name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, 1 you can taste. It brings you back to the present moment.
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