Can you go to work with postpartum depression?

Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
Updated on May 29, 2025
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When postpartum depression occurs, the individual is unable to resume normal work and life. If the condition is mild, it requires a period of adjustment and treatment before returning to normal life and work. If the condition is severe, the treatment period will be longer, possibly three to five years. Moreover, postpartum depression is prone to recurrence, and in severe cases, there may be suicidal tendencies. Symptoms often include excessive mental tension, insomnia, and low spirits, necessitating significant support from family members.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Does postpartum depression require hospitalization?

Postpartum depression generally does not require hospital treatment. Family members should provide more care and communicate more with the mother. It is important to offer timely advice, encouragement, and sympathy to provide psychological comfort, which can help eliminate some negative emotions. Additionally, listening to soothing music can also be beneficial. Besides these, attention should be paid to adjusting the dietary structure. It is advisable to consume light, easily digestible foods and maintain balanced nutrition. Spicy and stimulating foods should be avoided as they can worsen the symptoms and negatively affect the treatment.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Postpartum depression occurs when?

Postpartum depression typically develops within two weeks after childbirth, and its symptoms are most pronounced between 4 to 6 weeks postpartum. During this period, the new mother may exhibit a very depressed mood, feel quite despondent, and appear emotionally detached. She may be unwilling to communicate with others, and may even experience estrangement from her own husband. Some affected women may also show a lack of confidence in life and family matters, decreased initiative, express a weariness of life, show slow reactions in daily activities, and have difficulty concentrating. Additionally, there is a noticeable decrease in both appetite and sexual desire.

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Written by Yue Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Symptoms of postpartum depression

The clinical manifestations of postpartum depression include patients feeling depressed, indifferent, and despondent about two weeks after giving birth. Additionally, patients may be reluctant to communicate with others, and might even avoid speaking to their spouses. Some mothers may also display a lack of confidence in life and family, decreased initiative, fatigue with life, slower reactions to things than usual, and reduced concentration. There is also a notable decrease in appetite, eating very little, and possibly experiencing symptoms like dizziness and headaches.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Which department should I go to for postpartum depression?

In cases of postpartum depression, it is advisable for family members to accompany the new mother to the hospital to see a psychologist. Postpartum depression is a mental and psychological disorder that occurs in women after childbirth, mainly related to changes in hormone levels in the body after childbirth. Additionally, it is related to increased mental stress, emotional changes, and the level of family attention after childbirth. When postpartum depression occurs, the emotions of the affected women generally tend to be quite low. They may also lose confidence in life and, in severe cases, may feel despair towards life and even exhibit suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is crucial for family members to offer more care and affection.

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Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
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Postpartum depression should seek what clinic?

Postpartum depression is relatively common in clinical practice and can severely harm women's health. If not intervened in time, it can lead to serious pathological changes in the mother, and in severe cases, lead to grave consequences. Mothers suspected of having postpartum depression should seek medical attention promptly, with the most common department being the psychiatric outpatient clinic. Although postpartum depression is related to childbirth, general obstetric outpatient clinics are not particularly specialized in treating depression. Consultations with specialized psychiatric or psychological doctors should be sought to determine the presence of postpartum depression. If confirmed, psychological counseling should be provided, along with pharmacological treatment. Without examination and treatment, there might be incidences of self-harm in pregnant women.