I think I had some baby blues with my first child (he was very high needs so its hard to know if it was the blues or simple stress and exhaustion.) With my second I started having ppd around the time he turned a year old. It progressively got worse over the course of the year blossoming into panic attacks and constant anxiety until I was finally hospitalized to get on the right meds two weeks before his second birthday. I now have a nine month old ds3 and I've been fine thus far. I get more sleep this time around and I'm exercising and I think both have made a difference. I went off my meds to get pregnant and haven't needed them so far. I'm amazed at how much exercise seems to make a difference. I can tell if I blow it off cause I'm busy one week, I start to notice some changes creeping in. Once I get back on my exercise track, I feel much better again.
Those who have had ppd before are more prone to getting it in subsequent pregnancies, but it isn't a definite. Those with a family history of clinical depression also seem to be more at risk (I have family history -- BIG family history.) The baby blues shouldn't last more than a few days to a couple of weeks. If you find that you just can't shake it, it may be something more. There is a great quiz you can take stickied at the top of the board.
