Postpartum Depression

British South Asian women experience a higher prevalence of postnatal depression than White British and White Irish populations. Postpartum depression causes mothers to experience sadness despite feeling happy about their newborn. Hormonal imbalance after birth is a direct contributor to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can impair maternal functioning and affect child and family outcomes. Perinatal mental health problems affect about one in five women during pregnancy and postpartum. Women with subclinical depressive symptoms may later develop clinical postpartum depression. Untreated maternal perinatal mental illness has substantial economic costs in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Ethnic minority groups in the UK have lower detection and treatment rates for anxiety and depression during the perinatal period. Many mothers with postpartum depression feel guilt because they expect to feel joyful after having a baby. The internal conflict between expected joy and experienced sadness can compound postpartum depression itself.