Postpartum depression is one of the most common types of depression that will affect women who have had given birth to babies. This disorder is also referred to by physicians as no psychotic depression. 

 According to research postpartum depression can be found in 10 - 20% of women only a few weeks to a few months after they have delivered a baby. Women who have suffered with other types of depression, not enough social support, psychological stress, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder have a higher risk of suffering from postpartum depression. 

 The symptoms of this condition include; tearfulness, depressive mood, trouble sleeping, problems eating, fatigue, is not able to enjoy fun activities, thoughts of suicide, the feeling that they are not a good parent, and difficult concentrating. 

 Most women are afraid for their babies if they know that they have postpartum depression because it can cause them to have many negative thoughts toward them. For some women they will have thoughts of harming their babies - but they may not follow through with anything. There are even some women who will have ideas of killing themselves as well as their children so that she does not abandon them. 

 Physicians are not able to find the defining cause of postpartum depression - but they do believe there are many factors that will help to contribute to it. Hormone imbalance, mental illness before the pregnancy, problems in the marriage, miscarriage, and all of the physical and emotional changes after the birth are some of the more common contributing factors.