Understanding Postpartum Depression — It Is Not Baby Blues

Amaka had everything people told her she needed to be happy. Three weeks after delivery, she couldn't get out of bed. She couldn't stop crying. She felt nothing when she held her baby.

She thought she was a terrible mother. She was not. She was unwell.

Baby Blues vs. Postpartum Depression

Baby blues are common — affecting up to 80% of new mothers. Postpartum depression is different. It is a clinical condition. It produces profound exhaustion that is separate from sleep deprivation.

Why Nigerian Mothers Suffer Alone

In Nigerian culture, new motherhood is wrapped in celebration. Admitting you are struggling after a baby can feel like a betrayal of the gift you've been given. And so women suffer silently.

This Is Treatable

Postpartum depression responds very well to treatment.