Updated by the Progyny Clinical Team — April 2025
The postpartum period can be hard for many parents. Many develop the baby blues, sometimes feeling sad, anxious, and upset. While these symptoms usually improve within a few weeks, up to one in seven parents will develop postpartum depression. Strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, and despair can make it hard to take care of yourself and your baby.
If you’re struggling with these feelings and want to discuss them more, please contact your Progyny Care Advocate. They can listen, talk about resources, and help get you connected with the support you need.
Serious symptoms to watch out for in yourself or your partner include:
- Finding it hard to laugh or enjoy things that used to be fun.
- Not feeling excited or interested in things you usually look forward to.
- Blaming yourself when things go wrong, even if it’s not your fault.
- Feeling anxious, nervous, scared, or panicked without a clear reason.
- Feeling down, sad, or low most of the time.
- Feeling so upset or overwhelmed that it’s hard to sleep.
Reach out to your healthcare provider or team if you are having these symptoms or if you think you’re going through postpartum depression. Treatment for postpartum depression will involve close communication with them. It may include a combination of therapy and medication, with the goal of helping you care for yourself and your family.
Severe symptoms include thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby — or seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. If you experience these, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.
For more information about and resources for postpartum depression, you can visit American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.