When a baby is born, everyone expects that this will be the best time in their life. No one expects this time to be complicated by tears, frustrations, feelings of inadequacy, anxiety attacks and/or depression. It doesn't always make sense and it certainly isn't fair.

Here is a checklist of symptoms that is useful for mothers to determine whether what they are feeling is problematic or not. Below is an excerpt from This Isn't What I Expected:

The following is a list of ways you might be feeling now. These are statements often made by women suffering from postpartum depression (PPD). Look over the list and check any statements that correspond to your own feelings.

Postpartum Depression Symptom Checklist:

  I can't shake feeling depressed no matter what I do.
I cry at least once a day.
I feel sad most or all of the time.
I can't concentrate.
I don't enjoy the things that I used to enjoy.
I have no interest in making love at all, even though my doctor says I'm now physically able to resume sexual relations.
I can't sleep, even when my baby sleeps.
I feel like a failure all of the time.
I have no energy; I am tired all the time.
I have no appetite and no enjoyment of food (or I am having sugar and carbohydrate cravings and compulsively eating all the time.)
I can't remember the last time I laughed.
Every little thing gets on my nerves lately. Sometimes, I am even furious at my baby. Often, I am angry with my husband.
I feel that the future is hopeless.
It seems like I will feel this way forever.
There are times when I feel that it would be better to be dead than to feel this way for one more minute.

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