the exact cause of postpartum depression is still being debated among medical professionals. many doctors believe that the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and childbirth are primarily responsible for the illness. estrogen and progesterone the female reproductive hormones increase tenfold during pregnancy. then after a woman gives birth her production of these hormones -- as well as endorphins cortisol prolactin and corticotrophin-releasing hormones -- drops significantly. these changes apparently trigger postpartum depression. ppd may also be caused or aggravated by exhaustion from childbirth stress or lack of sleep in the early weeks of a newborn's life.
what causes postpartum depression?