---
title: What causes sad feelings in the days after giving birth? | Niyora
description: Feeling pessimistic during pregnancy that comes true after birth is the strongest predictor of maternity blues. Women with severe premenstrual tension, unplan
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-maternity-blues-exploration-of-a-psychological-hypothesis-1987/
---

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- What causes sad feelings in the days after giving birth?

Interview study, 1987

# What causes sad feelings in the days after giving birth?

Feeling pessimistic during pregnancy that comes true after birth is the strongest predictor of maternity blues. Women with severe premenstrual tension, unplanned pregnancies, or who considered abortion early are also at higher risk.

 Early or limited evidence

89 women studied from pregnancy through postpartum period

## What they did

Prospective study of 89 women followed from late pregnancy through the postpartum period. Researchers asked women about their expectations, feelings, and pregnancy history, then tracked whether they experienced maternity blues after birth.

## What they found

Pessimism in late pregnancy that was confirmed by postpartum reality was the strongest predictor of maternity blues. A combination of severe premenstrual tension, unplanned pregnancy, and considering termination was associated with increased risk of blues. The hypothesized sense of disappointment or anti-climax did not predict blues, even though many women's experiences fell short of their expectations.

## What it means for you

Mood problems after birth may be related more to what women expect during pregnancy than to the birth experience itself. Women with a history of premenstrual tension may be at higher risk. The main limitation is this is one small study from one place and time.

89

Women in study

## About the study

Original title The maternity blues: exploration of a psychological hypothesis Authors Condon JT, Watson TL Journal Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica Year 1987 Study design Interview study Participants 89 What was tested None Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1987.tb02880.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.1987.tb02880.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)

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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