Because I know that postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety (PPA) affect so many mamas and families, I wanted to write a post talking about the symptoms and what to look for if you or someone you love is struggling. However, remember that I am not a medical professional, so this is just friendly advice from someone who uses Google and has known people who have suffered from this condition.

It's normal to feel a little down after bringing home a baby, but if you're feeling overwhelmed and hopeless for more than two weeks, you may have PPD, which can make it difficult to take care of yourself or your baby. Here are a few symptoms you should look out for:
- feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed most of the day, every day
- losing interest in activities that used to bring you joy
- withdrawing from friends and family
- difficulty bonding with your baby
- feeling like you're a bad mother
- having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
- experiencing changes in appetite
- feeling anxious or irritable
- having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
