Yes hormones can be evil! While I was never officially diagnosed with depression, I struggled with thoughts of suicide and extreme despair post-delivery. I now know that I was depressed and I should have really gotten meds for it. On the face of it I had every thing - a healthy, adorable baby, a supportive husband, parents, and in-laws, long maternity leave (so no stress about going back to work), and enough resources to be able to afford cleaning and babystting help. But I was depressed nevertheless. I just wanted to get away from the baby back to my prior life. I would go out for walk, but the tears would come as soon as I stepped out of the door.
Now it seems ridiculous that I felt like that - but at that point it was very real, and very ugly. Please support your friend all you can during this time, and encourage her to get medical help.
It is a real thing. I'm in my 11th week now. Between weeks 8-10 I had moderate depression. I didnt feel like playing with my toddler, didnt want to get out of bed. some of it had to do with the morning and night sickness I was experiencing, some of it had to do with just stress at work.
No part of it had to do with the baby, just change in hormones, irritability and tiredness.
Starting to pull through but there is still some feelings of sadness from time to time.
^ That's depression? I had that too and it's just super active hormones I thought.
Depression, by definition, is a mood disorder. It affects how you feel, think, and handle daily activities so for me I perceived my change in mood and feelings of sadness for no apparent reason as moderate depression.