---
title: When are new mothers most likely to get depression - right after birth or later?
description: Depression peaked at 10 weeks after birth, not immediately afterward. PMS before pregnancy was only linked to postpartum depression once women's periods resta
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prevalence-of-post-partum-depression-or-is-it-post-puerperium-depression-1993/
---

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- When are new mothers most likely to get depression - right after birth or later?

Cohort study, 1993

# When are new mothers most likely to get depression - right after birth or later?

Depression peaked at 10 weeks after birth, not immediately afterward. PMS before pregnancy was only linked to postpartum depression once women's periods restarted.

 Moderate study design

293 women followed from pregnancy through 34 weeks postpartum

## What they did

They followed 293 women from 32 weeks of pregnancy through 34 weeks after birth, measuring depression at multiple time points roughly every 6 weeks.

## What they found

Depression rates ranged from 7 to 14%, with the highest at 10 weeks postpartum. Women were significantly more depressed at 10 weeks compared with pregnancy and the first few weeks after birth. Different women were depressed at different time points, not the same group throughout. PMS was only significantly related to postpartum depression once menstruation restarted.

## What it means for you

Postpartum depression often arrives weeks after birth, not right away. A history of PMS becomes relevant to postpartum mood once your cycle restarts. The study tracked women through pregnancy and the postpartum period only, so we don't know about longer-term patterns.

293

women

7-14%

prevalence of depression postpartum

10 weeks

peak depression timing after birth

## About the study

Original title Prevalence of post partum depression--or is it post-puerperium depression? Authors Pop VJ, Essed GG, de Geus CA et al. Journal Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica Year 1993 Study design Cohort study Participants 293 What was tested None - observational longitudinal study Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/00016349309021112](https://doi.org/10.3109/00016349309021112)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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Interview study, 1991

Is premenstrual depression the same as depression from a mood disorder?

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