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Q&A: When Does Postpartum Depression Start?

Does PPD always start right after birth, or can someone start to exhibit symptoms many months afterward?
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By Shoshana Bennett, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Updated March 2, 2017
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Image: Maximilian MacEwan

Postpartum depression doesn’t necessarily begin immediately. While most cases crop up during the first three months after baby is born, it can actually strike at any time, up to the first year after delivery. Since PPD doesn’t always go away on its own, it’s important to seek help as soon as possible — no matter when the illness starts.

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