Beware the Baby Blues

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By Suzanne Dixon M.D., M.P.H.

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"There is nothing so amazing as the development of a child," says Suzanne Dixon, M.D., a behavioral and developmental pediatrician who was one of the founding members of the Pampers Parenting Network. "Every day is a new adventure when you have a child around you. I never get tired of learning from the children who have been a part of my life, professionally and personally."

Suzanne Dixon, M.D., M.P.H., was born and raised in Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. She did her pediatric training at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and then completed a fellowship in Child Development at Boston's Children's Hospital. Dr. Dixon joined the faculty at the University of California, San Diego, and did patient care, teaching, and research for 20 years. She ran a large newborn service, performed research in early child development, and was involved in many community outreach activities in maternal child health. Throughout her entire professional life she has maintained an interest in cross-cultural activities, living and working in many parts of the world, including Mexico, India, Kenya, Indonesia, and several countries from the former U.S.S.R.

Dr. Dixon is the author of numerous research articles, review articles, and textbook chapters in pediatrics, child and family development, and public health. Her textbook, written with Dr. Martin Stein, Encounters With Children: Pediatric Behavior and Development, has become a classic in child health education and is in its fourth edition. She is Editor in Chief of the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, an international journal of high standing in the professional world. She also has served as an associate editor for Infant Mental Health and currently reviews for several major pediatric journals.

Dr. Dixon is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and served in national positions in that organization. She is a member of the Society for Pediatric Research, the Society for Research in Child Development, the American Public Health Association, and the Executive Council of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. She serves as consultant to several national and international organizations and has received an award from Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies.

Dr. Dixon continues to lecture and consult worldwide on aspects of maternal, child, and family health. She practices behavioral and developmental pediatrics in Montana and works with local advocacy groups on education and women's health. Dr. Dixon has been married for over 30 years and has three sons. She and her husband travel frequently, are outdoor enthusiasts, and enjoy being amateur anthropologists

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Being a new mom is exhausting, and it's natural to feel low now and then. But for 8 percent to 26 percent of women, it goes further — they suffer from postpartum depression, which can be mild, or severe enough to prompt thoughts of suicide. Postpartum depression may last from 3 to 12 months and may have serious consequences for the whole family, including the baby. Studies show that young infants behave differently with their depressed mothers than they do with new moms who don't have postpartum depression. And that difference is not good for their development.

Whether it's full-blown postpartum depression or a bad case of the baby blues, newborns are very sensitive to their mothers' moods, so get help right away if you're still feeling sad, tearful, or down on a regular basis.

These are the most common symptoms of postpartum depression (not all have to be present for someone to have it):

Crying
Insomnia
Change in appetite
Feeling worthless
Loss of energy
Inability to concentrate
Lack of concern for personal appearance
Anxiety
Irritability
Hostility

If you've experienced some or all of these symptoms, remember that it's not your fault. See your health care provider right away to find out the right way to treat your depression, for your sake and your baby's.

Get more information from Dr. Freda on postpartum depression.