Unfortunately, postpartum depression isn't the only mood disorder to be watchful for after giving birth. There are a few other disorders that affect women postpartum, including postpartum obsessive-compulsive disorder, postpartum panic disorder, postpartum psychosis, and posttraumatic stress disorder. These disorders affect significantly fewer women compared to postpartum depression and anxiety, but you should still be aware of their signs and symptoms.

Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

PPOCD is more unusual than postpartum depression, occurring in between 3 and 5 percent of new mothers. A mother suffering from PPOCD may find herself having obsessive, sometimes violent thoughts about her baby. Or she may develop compulsive habits such as checking again and again to make sure the windows are locked or the stove is turned off. Sometimes PPOCD will manifest as an obsession with cleanliness. Sometimes a mother with PPOCD will have persistent and unwanted thoughts about hurting or killing her baby, which may horrify her. She may be afraid to be alone with the baby, even if she doesn't believe she would ever really act on the visions in her head.

If you or anyone in your family has a history of obsessive-compulsive behavior, you're at a greater risk of developing the condition during the postpartum period. Therapy and antidepressant medication can be helpful for treatment of PPOCD, as can connecting with other mothers who've experienced it.

Postpartum Panic Disorder

About 10 percent of postpartum women experience extreme anxiety and panic attacks. Often, these panic attacks can seem to come from nowhere, and they can be very frightening — people sometimes describe a panic attack as feeling like a heart attack.

Thyroid dysfunction and a family history of panic attacks may make you more inclined to develop postpartum panic disorder. If you think you might be suffering from postpartum panic disorder, see a doctor for treatment, who may recommend therapy or medication.

Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is an extreme form of postpartum depression. It's more common in women with certain pre-existing psychiatric problems, like bipolar disorder. Women suffering from postpartum psychosis may experience hallucinations, delusions, mania, and troubling or obsessive thoughts about the baby. Postpartum psychosis is rare, but it can be serious, as it has been linked to a high rate of suicide and infanticide. If you feel out of control, worry about harming yourself or your baby, or hear voices or see things that no one else can, you may be suffering from postpartum psychosis and should seek medical attention immediately. Treatment may include hospitalization and antipsychotic medications.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

If your birth was very difficult, ended in an unwanted c-section, resulted in injury to you, or if your baby was born early, became sick, or died, you could develop what's known as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Most people associate this condition with accident or trauma victims, or soldiers who experience flashbacks from war. But mental-health experts are beginning to realize that a traumatic birth experience can bring on the same sort of symptoms.

Women with this condition may experience flashbacks, intense anxiety, nervousness or jitters, insomnia, rage, disturbing dreams, or even hallucinations. Mothers with PTSD are, not surprisingly, also more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, though it's also thought that some cases of PPD may actually be misdiagnosed PTSD. If you can't stop having upsetting thoughts or dreams about your birth, if things that bring up memories of birth cause you a lot of distress, or if you ever have flashbacks or feel like you are reliving your birth experience, you may be suffering from postpartum PTSD.