Postpartum Depression or Baby Blues?

Thank you to Heartland Women's Group for sponsoring this post and providing excellence in healthcare for Wichita moms!

Postpartum Depression

There’s been a lot of news about model and actress Chrissy Tiegen’s post-partum depression experience. She is like many new moms who feel a jumble of unexpected emotions in the days, weeks and months after their baby is born.

The cause of most mood swings is hormone fluctuation, which is a totally normal part of pregnancy and childbirth. True peri-natal depression can last up to 12 months after delivery, so it’s important to establish your “normal” before and during pregnancy up through labor.

In my practice, I find that hormone fluctuations compounded with an underlying tendency toward depression or extenuating life circumstances (like a divorce) exacerbate the seriousness of the depression. To help assess the severity, I ask patients questions, such as “Do you ever feel like you want to stay in bed all day, or don’t want to leave the house? Do you ever feel like you ever want to harm someone, hurt the baby or yourself?” In my experience, the first six weeks can be a really tough time.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women perform a screening at least once during their peri-partum time (right before or after delivery). It may seem strange to take a depression test on yourself, but it is actually a very good thing to do. We use the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale test, which asks questions including “I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong” and “The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.”

If your score indicates that you’re somewhat at risk, you should talk to your doctor. There are plenty of safe medications out there, even if you are breastfeeding. There are lots of specially trained counselors who can help, too. Ask your doctor for referrals.

In my experience, family support for a new mom is always very important. It seems more frequent than not that patients who present as clinically depressed don’t have good family support. Many times, new moms are left at home all day while their partner is at work, or perhaps the partner is just not helpful with the baby. Those are prime cues for post-partum depression.

When mood swings hit, my advice is to get outside – get some fresh air and sunshine. Also, get some help from friends or family, even if it’s just 30 minutes a day, to get away from the house and go do something. Go to the bookstore, get a coffee, talk a walk, sit at a park – do something for yourself each day. Being cooped up all day is not good for anyone.

It’s important to remember that postpartum depression is not your fault. If you or someone close to you is truly concerned, contact your physician. If you need to establish a relationship with an ob/gyn physician, contact Heartland Women’s Group at (316) 858-7100 or HeartlandWomensGroup.com.


Dawne A. Lowden, MD, practices obstetrics and gynecology at Heartland Women’s Group in Wichita. She is passionate about providing individualized care, taking the time to listen to patients and discussing options. She graduated medical school from and performed her residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She serves as medical co-director Wesley Medical Center Labor and Delivery Committee and sits on the Wesley OB Executive Committee. Outside of work, Dr. Lowden can be found training a run/walk team for the Lymphoma/Leukemia Society and serving on the Providers Care Board of Directors. To make an appointment with Dr. Lowden, call (316) 858-7100 or schedule online at HeartlandWomensGroup.com.

Angela Green
Angela is the founder of Wichita Mom, the premier parenting website and digital guide for families as they navigate life in Wichita, KS. She is a wife, business owner, avid reader, proud gymnastics & dance mom, Peloton lover, and is always planning her next trip.