Shades of Light is a Capital Area resource offering postpartum support for new mothers and their families afflicted with perinatal mood disorders and postpartum depression. We work closely with the Postpartum Resource Center of New York, Inc. (a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) organization). Postpartum depression (PPD) is a general term used to describe a range of disorders, called Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMD). A woman can experience a variety of symptoms after the birth of her child: Postpartum Depression, Postpartum Anxiety, Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsiveness, Postpartum Post-Traumatic Stress, or Postpartum Psychosis. We provide information, treatment resources, education, and support groups to aid in the recovery process.

Did You Know?

• Postpartum depression is the most common disorder after childbirth.¹
• Approximately 80% of new mothers get the “baby blues,” depressive symptoms which resolve within 12 days after birth and is NOT considered a Postpartum Depression Disorder.²
• Self-reported Postpartum Depression in various US states varies between 11.7–20.4%, approximately 1 in 8 women.²
• PPD is a treatable illness.²

According to these statistics, PPD is more prevalent in women than diabetes,³ stroke,² or breast cancer.³ In fact, more women will suffer from postpartum depression and related illnesses this year than the combined number of new cases for men and women of tuberculosis, leukemia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and epilepsy.³

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¹ NYS Dept. of Mental Health
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
³ National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, National Cancer Institute, and http://postpartumprogress.typed.com