Which symptom is most characteristic of postpartum depression?

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Postpartum depression shows up as a mood disturbance that lasts well beyond the immediate postpartum period and significantly interferes with daily functioning. The symptom described—depressed mood lasting more than two weeks with impairment—fits this pattern exactly, matching both the duration and the functional impact of a depressive episode after childbirth. This distinguishes it from the common baby blues, which involve mood swings and tearfulness that begin soon after birth but typically resolve within a couple of weeks and don’t cause substantial impairment. Other options describe transientMood changes or symptoms that, by themselves, don’t meet the sustained depressed mood with impairment needed for postpartum depression. In addition to the core mood criteria, postpartum depression may include fatigue, sleep changes, guilt, or concentration problems, and it requires appropriate evaluation and treatment.