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Last Updated on January 22, 2025 by Samantha Flores
Postpartum depression (PPD) is underreported. Current statistics show that up to 20% of mothers experience postpartum depression. However, this number is likely higher given the number of mothers who never report or seek help for PPD. Unfortunately, postpartum depression can affect your baby.
If you are someone who is experiencing postpartum depression, you are not alone. The best thing you can do for yourself and your baby is to seek help. Thankfully, there are many resources available to help you through this difficult season.
Related: Can Babies Feel Love? 5 Signs Your Baby Trusts You
How Postpartum Depression Can Affect Your Baby
Experiencing postpartum depression isn’t easy and it can be especially difficult for your baby to experience with you. Learn how postpartum depression can affect your baby.
Bonding
When a mother is experiencing PPD, this can make it difficult to bond with her baby. Some mothers might feel as though their baby is better off without them and therefore, they begin to distance themselves from their baby. In addition, PPD can make it difficult for moms to feel encouraged to connect with their babies when the symptoms become overpowering.
Bonding with your baby is crucial, especially during those early postpartum weeks. It’s important to make a plan to get help as soon as possible. Unfortunately, PPD doesn’t just go away on its own. You have to take action for your sake and your baby’s.
Related: Postpartum Depression: The Signs of Living with PPD
Learning
Postpartum depression can affect your baby by hindering their learning. Babies depend on their mothers and those around them to learn from. If a mother isn’t engaging with her baby due to PPD, this can have a negative outcome on the baby’s ability to learn.
None of this information is supposed to make you feel like a bad mom. Quite the opposite! It is meant to encourage you to seek help so that you can be your best for your baby. When you take care of yourself, your baby benefits. You and your baby deserve a chance to learn together.
Behavior
Babies are incredible and their brains are processing everything in their environment. This directly impacts their behavior. If a baby’s needs aren’t being met due to a mother experiencing PPD, their brains interpret that lack of response negatively, which feeds their behavior. This could look like excessive crying, defiance, and overall attention-seeking behaviors.
Sleeping
Another way postpartum depression can affect your baby is through sleep. When a baby isn’t comforted during the day, nighttime can become increasingly difficult as the baby develops anxiety over being left alone. In addition, if a baby isn’t developmentally ready to adapt self-soothing skills, this could make sleep even more challenging.
I get it; as a mother of three, I experienced PPD with my firstborn (my son). Nights were horrific for us. I didn’t want to tend to him because I just wanted to sleep. I was deep down in the postpartum depression hole and it was difficult for me to feel any emotion except for the feeling of emptiness. The difference is that I did get help and I fought for him.
Related: Postpartum Mood Disorders: How to Assess Yourself for PPD
Feeding
For mothers who choose to breastfeed, PPD can impact their baby’s feeding. This can be due to a latch issue and/or the baby feeling uneasy around their mother as they try to nurse. As with bonding, breastfeeding also relies on the mother’s desire to want to connect. In addition, postpartum depression can impact the breast milk supply.
Social Skills
Postpartum depression can be a monster to deal with. It can cause a mother to not want to interact with her baby. When a baby isn’t getting the appropriate amount of attention, comfort, and love, he/she will have difficulty developing social skills because they don’t have anyone to model behaviors with.
Your baby is learning from you every day. What you show him/her (or lack of) will be the basis for their growth, including social skills. PPD doesn’t have to win if you can choose to take action.
Development
Unfortunately, the development of your baby can also be impacted by PPD. Some disorders include obesity. Babies rely on their mothers to nourish them and help them cope during distressing times. Sometimes, their cries for connection are met with an extra bottle to keep them quiet instead.
Your baby’s ability to regulate their brain and body relies on the connection they get from their caregiver. If postpartum depression is a factor, your baby will struggle.
Related: Helpful Self-Care Strategies for Moms Dealing With Postpartum Depression
Help Your Baby By Overcoming Postpartum Depression
I know from the bottom of my heart and soul how devastating postpartum depression can be for a mother. I experienced it and it changed me and the relationship I had with my baby. It is a challenging season to be in. However, you have to want help to overcome postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression can affect your baby in many ways. Not every outcome is listed in this post, but what we can see already is that PPD isn’t just impacting mothers. Your baby’s well-being and future rely on your willingness to get help. Take time to make a plan of action now so that you can begin to overcome PPD. Click here for your guide –> The Fourth Trimester: A Postpartum Depression Guide
