The article reports on how to support someone with postpartum depression, based on the experience of Iza Thiago-Munoz, a lactation consultant and founder of a telehealth company. According to Dr. Kelli Burroughs, an ob-gyn, signs of postpartum depression include a persistently depressed mood, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating, which can last longer than two weeks and interfere with daily life. The article emphasizes that it's not necessary to diagnose someone before offering support, but rather to acknowledge their struggles without judgment. Experts suggest describing what you've noticed, such as "I know this is a huge adjustment," rather than labeling them with a diagnosis.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
When Iza Thiago-Munoz brought her first baby home, she instituted a rule: She was the only person allowed to carry the baby upstairs.
asserted
She → bring → baby
At the time, she lived in a narrow Philadelphia rowhouse with a steep staircase.
asserted
she → live → staircase
If anyone else—including her husband—wanted to take the baby up, they had to buckle the infant into a car seat first.
asserted
they → include → seat
Her husband occasionally tried to reason with her.
asserted
husband → try → her
He could hold the baby tightly, he pointed out.
uncertain
he → hold → baby
“But what if you fall down the stairs?” she would reply.
asserted
she → fall → stairs
She didn’t know it at the time, but Thiago-Munoz was struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, which amplified her lifelong tendency to imagine the worst-case scenario.
asserted
which → know → scenario
She also felt enormous pressure to be a perfect mother.
asserted
She → feel → ?
“I thought I had to do everything,” she says.
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she → think → everything
Otherwise, she worried, “people would just think that I wasn’t good enough.”
asserted
I → worry → ?
Asking for help felt like admitting that they were right.
asserted
they → ask → help
Her work is informed by what she experienced after giving birth—and by what she wishes the people around her had understood.
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people → inform → her
“I just didn’t feel joy in anything,” she says.
asserted
she → feel → anything
“I felt like I was supposed to be happy because, wow, this major thing just happened.
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thing → feel → ?
Supporting someone with postpartum depression starts with knowing how it can show up, even when it doesn’t match the image you have in your head.
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you → support → head
Know the difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression
Both the “baby blues” and postpartum depression can cause sadness, tearfulness, irritability, and feeling overwhelmed after giving birth, says Dr. Kelli Burroughs, an ob-gyn and vice chair of clinical affairs and patient experience at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston.
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Burroughs → know → Houston
But the baby blues are generally mild, begin within the first week after delivery, and improve within about two weeks.
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blues → begin → weeks
Postpartum depression lasts longer and interferes more significantly with daily life.
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depression → last → life
Signs can include a persistently depressed mood; losing interest in things that usually bring joy; withdrawing from other people; difficulty eating, concentrating, or sleeping even when the baby is asleep; extreme fatigue; and feeling disconnected from the baby.
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baby → include → baby
Postpartum depression can also begin months after giving birth—not only during those first blurry weeks at home.
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depression → begin → home
It doesn’t always look the way people expect, either.
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people → look → ?
Sometimes, the moms who are suffering the most appear to have everything under control, says Jayme Scarfo, a licensed professional counselor in Surprise, Ariz., who specializes in working with pregnant and postpartum women.
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who → suffer → women
They’re showering, cooking, going to the gym, and insisting: “It’s hard, but don’t worry.
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It → shower → gym
I’ve got it.”
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I → get → it
You don’t need to decide whether someone meets the diagnostic criteria before checking in.
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someone → need → criteria
Describe what you’ve noticed without labeling her, Scarfo suggests: “I know this is a huge adjustment, and you haven’t seemed like yourself lately.
uncertain
you → describe → yourself
How are you really doing?”
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you → do → ?
Or: “You seem much more anxious than usual, and I’m worried about you.
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I → seem → you
Can we talk about it?”
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we → talk → it
Consider who should initiate that conversation, too.
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who → consider → conversation
“The best person to ask those hard questions is often going to be whoever she feels the least pressure to perform for,” Scarfo says.
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Scarfo → ask → whoever
Burroughs also likes asking questions that are harder to brush off with a reflexive “I’m fine.”
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I → like → ’m
For example: “Are you having more good days or bad days?”
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you → have → days
It’s also helpful to ask when she last slept for more than two hours or ate a real meal sitting down.
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she → ’ → meal
Those answers can help you understand where she’s struggling—and how you might lighten the load.
uncertain
you → help → load
Don’t argue with how she feels
When someone declares they’re a “terrible mother,” your instinct might be to disagree.
uncertain
instinct → argue → ?
Of course you’re not!
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you → ’re → ?
You’re doing an amazing job.
asserted
You → do → job
But depression and anxiety symptoms can start to feel like part of someone’s identity, says Emma Basch, a clinical psychologist in Washington who specializes in perinatal mental health.
asserted
who → start → health
Trying to prove her wrong might leave her feeling even more misunderstood.
uncertain
her → try → her
…and 54 more, not listed.
