Q: I just had a beautiful baby a month ago and I should be the happiest I've ever been in my life. The problem is I'm not. I'm feeling completely overwhelmed and I've been having disturbing dreams at night about my baby. What is wrong with me?

A: Postpartum depression can be detrimental to new mothers and to the mother/child relationship if the condition goes unrecognized. Complicating matters is that the new mother often can't bring herself to admit to any problems or negative emotions due to societal pressures.

Right now, new mothers are not regularly screened for postpartum depression, and they should be. At a minimum, it can be as simple as asking how are things going, if there are any issues at home and does she have enough support at home.

New moms may not recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression. They need to know that certain feelings are not a normal part of motherhood. There is often a stigma attached to postpartum depression and to depression in general.

Unfortunately, obstetric, family practice and pediatric providers who work with new moms don't always know the mental health providers who treat postpartum depression.

The Fox Valley Postpartum Depression Task Force has put together an excellent resource to refer women like you to local resources that can help you understand your feelings and get the help you need. Those resources include: