a state of pathological sadness that sometimes affects a woman soon after the birth of her baby. The condition usually starts suddenly and without warning on the second or third day after delivery and usually resolves in about two months. In most cases the depression is not severe, but in about one case in 1000 it becomes serious enough to require admission to hospital. In these cases careful supervision and treatment are essential as there is a risk that the woman may kill herself or her baby.
Medical dictionary. 2011.