I have postpartum depression. What can you tell me about how this might affect my little one’s sleep?
Links between postpartum depression and infant sleep problems have been reported. It is important that you realize that this does not necessarily mean that your depression is leading to your infant sleeping poorly. The relationship is likely to be complex. For example, in some cases it may well be that the infants’ poor sleep is in part leading to the depression symptoms in the mother – and it has been found previously that behavioral interventions to improve sleep in babies can reduce depression in their mothers, too.
Regardless of the reasons underlying this link, it is important that you seek help for your postpartum depression from your health care provider – as there are effective treatments available – both behavioral and pharmacological (with medicine). At the same time, you could ask your healthcare provider for advice about the best techniques to settling your infant to sleep and get a good night’s sleep.
