You've just given birth to a delightful baby, and everyone is ecstatic. Everyone, that is, except you. If this is supposed to be the happiest time of your life, why do you feel so low?

You're not alone. Some degree of emotional vulnerability is natural and expected after childbirth, and many women have conflicting or troublesome feelings at this time. At least 60 to 80 percent of new mothers experience the baby blues, a mild form of depression that begins a few days to a week after delivery and generally lasts no longer than two weeks. If you have the blues, you may be weepy, anxious, and unable to sleep. You may also be irritable and moody.

Moms often find themselves feeling better after getting some rest and help with the baby. You can find out more in our article Battling the Baby Blues. But if your blues - or those of someone you love - have lasted more than two weeks, read on.

Could I be suffering from postpartum depression?

If your mood doesn't lift after two weeks, you may have postpartum depression (PPD). Ten to 20 percent of new mothers develop a full-blown clinical depression, which can last from two weeks to as long as a year.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression include:

• insomnia
• weepiness or sadness that persists all day
• diminished interest in almost all activities
• difficulty concentrating
• change in appetite
• anxiety
• moodiness and irritability
• excessive guilt
• panic attacks (symptoms include heart racing, dizziness, confusion, feelings of impending doom)
• suicidal thoughts

Your doctor can best determine whether you have PPD, but you may spot some clues yourself. Experts say that if you can't sleep when the baby sleeps, no matter how hard you try or how tired you are, you may have postpartum depression. A small number of women believe they cannot adequately care for their baby.

Others report having intrusive thoughts about harming their babies. One Queens, New York, mother remembers falling asleep in a rocker one evening while holding her newborn son, and later waking up convinced she had dropped him on his head. No amount of reassurance from her husband that she hadn't hurt the baby would change her mind.

Women with postpartum psychosis might not realize they're having problems and may be unable or unwilling to seek treatment. It's critically important to seek medical help if you suspect that you or someone you know may have this problem. Depression and confusion can be very frightening to experience or to observe in a friend. It's important to know that waiting and hoping for improvement aren't enough and that medical treatment can be very helpful. The goals of treatment are to keep mother and baby safe and to preserve the mother's sense of competence as a parent while she recovers.

It's important to know the difference between normal emotional changes after birth and a need for further support. It's not just what you are feeling that indicates something may be amiss, but the frequency, intensity, and duration of your feelings. In other words, many new mothers feel sad and anxious periodically during the first few months after childbirth. But if you are crying all day long for several days in a row and having panic attacks, you should contact your doctor.

Postpartum depression can strike any woman, either immediately after the birth of her baby or many months later. Unfortunately, the medical community has a long history of misunderstanding and misdiagnosing PPD. Sometimes healthcare providers don't take new mothers' concerns seriously, brushing them off as hormonal shifts and adjustment to motherhood. Our society also makes it difficult to admit to having negative feelings about motherhood or the baby. When mothers do express feelings such as ambivalence, fear, or rage, they can frighten themselves and those close to them.

continue: Are You At Risk for Postpartum Depression and Ways of Coping with PPD