While having a new baby at home can be exciting, it can also be tiring and anxiety provoking. Nearly 50 percent of women feel sad or depressed following delivery. This blueness is in part due to a decline in hormone levels following childbirth and usually disappears in a few days to a few weeks. True postpartum depression may last a few months.

There are many other factors besides hormones that attribute to the postpartum blues. Exhaustion from delivery, sleep deprivation and physical pain compounded with the responsibility of taking care of a newborn can be overwhelming. Furthermore, new mothers may be frustrated that their baby does not do anything except sleep and eat. Also, women may feel guilty about going back to work or not working if they plan to stay at home.

Although there is no cure for postpartum depression, there are a number of steps that women can take to minimize its effects.

• Take time for yourself. Ask a friend or relative to watch the baby so you can get out of the house, run errands or rest.
• Fight exhaustion by napping when the baby does.
• Exercise.
• Get dressed and look your best. Don't wear a bathrobe all day.
• Meet and talk to other new mothers.

If depression persists and you can't sleep or eat, feel hopeless or apathetic, think of harming the baby or feel suicidal, seek professional help immediately