# Postpartum depression (mother)

Condition · id `maternal:postpartum-depression` · Maternal & Newborn Atlas · release `c7fb95f1d15a7d13` (public)

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Browse, life stage: Postpartum  
Browse, care area: Mental health  

## In plain language

Depression after childbirth. Many new mothers have short spells of low mood, tearfulness or worry known as the baby blues, which usually pass within a few days to a week. Postpartum depression is more intense and lasts longer than two weeks, and it can begin anytime in the first year after the birth. It is common, serious and treatable.

## Technical summary

MedlinePlus (from the Office on Women's Health) describes postpartum depression as a common but serious mood disorder that can begin anytime within the first year after childbirth, separate from the baby blues that go away within a few days to a week. NIMH treats it as the part of perinatal depression that follows birth. MedlinePlus lists talk therapy and medicines, including antidepressants, as treatments. US regulators have approved two medicines whose labelled use is postpartum depression: Zulresso (brexanolone) injection, given as a 60-hour infusion, labelled for adults in 2019 and for patients 15 years and older since a 2022 supplement, and now listed as discontinued; and Zurzuvae (zuranolone) capsules taken by mouth for 14 days, labelled for adults. The recipient is the postpartum woman.

## Connected pages

- Depression that begins after the birth: Perinatal depression (mother) (`maternal:perinatal-depression`)
- MedlinePlus health information on this subject: MedlinePlus (`core:medlineplus`)
- Filed under this front: Mental health and support (`maternal:front-mental-health-and-support`)
- Related to: Postnatal care for the mother (`maternal:postnatal-care`)
- Treated by: Brexanolone (`maternal:brexanolone`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-brexanolone-trials-hamd-60-hours` and its context]
- Treated by: Zuranolone (`maternal:zuranolone`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-zuranolone-skylark-hamd-day-15` and its context]
- Treated by: Zulresso (brexanolone injection) (`maternal:zulresso`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-zulresso-ppd-efficacy` and its context]
- Treated by: Zurzuvae (zuranolone) (`maternal:zurzuvae`) [a claim, not a settled fact; see claim `maternal:claim-zurzuvae-ppd-efficacy` and its context]

## Provenance

Content hash: 30b1182943fa5e4a3667b8abea77e60f6055df9ea8d7ac64912c78002eef9c89
Last substantive edit: 2026-10-14
Evidence last checked: 2026-10-14