HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – According to recent research, as many as 1 in 7 women in the U.S. will suffer from postpartum depression, but it’s estimated nearly 50% may suffer in silence.
Diane Manheim and her husband Nikolas were overjoyed to welcome their first child in November 2021.
“I had a wonderful pregnancy, so I just thought whenever my baby is born, it’s going to be great, it’s going to be just like it is in the movies and I really looked forward to that,” she said.
But shortly after giving birth to daughter Kalypso, Manheim noticed her mood was changing.
“And then I remember saying, ‘This is so hard,’ and just crying and saying, ‘It’s so overwhelming. I don’t know what I’m doing,’” she said.
Manheim later learned she was experiencing the classical signs of postpartum depression, a condition that affects 15 to 20 percent of women, and experts say the numbers are rising.
Dr. Zina Meridian, a psychiatrist with Memorial Healthcare, said it can develop during or after pregnancy.
“Now strictly it’s 4 weeks after delivery, but we also see delayed onset, which can occur up to 12 months later,” Meridian said.
Unlike the “baby blues,” which can pass in a matter of days, Meridian said postpartum depression lasts for several weeks to months.
Underlying factors could be the fluctuation in hormones brought on by pregnancy, as well as something called allopregnanalone, which is a neuroactive steroid associated with depressed mood.
Along with traditional therapy, Meridian said patients may benefit from a new drug called Zuranolone, which was specifically developed for the treatment of postpartum depression.
“The medication is a mimic of allopregnanalone, so you’re basically giving that to the patient,” Meridian said.
With the support of her husband and a special group for new moms, Manheim’s spirits have lifted.
“Now I think whenever I have the next baby I’m going to ask for help and now I know about postpartum depression, so it’s something I can be on the lookout for,” she said.
Postpartum depression doesn’t just affect new moms.
Studies have found that around 50% of men who have partners diagnosed with postpartum depression will go on to develop depression themselves.