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The good news is that for most women, the symptoms will pass in a few days. In those early days, you can stay tucked up with your baby as much as possible, and feed them very frequently. In recent years health professionals have started asking you to go to hospital for routine checks, rather than visiting you at home.
The baby blues. During the first week after childbirth, many women get what's often called the "baby blues". Women can experience a low mood and feel mildly depressed at a time when they expect they should feel happy after having a baby. "Baby blues" are probably due to the sudden hormonal and chemical changes that take place in your body after ...
How long will the baby blues last? At the moment, it may be hard to imagine a time when you won’t feel like this. But try not to worry, as things will get better, and quite quickly, too. The baby blues are not an illness, and usually last for just a few days (NHS 2018). The baby blues should lift without the need for treatment (NHS 2018).
- Overview
- What are the baby blues?
- What are the symptoms of the baby blues?
- How do the baby blues differ from postpartum depression?
- What can you do to treat the baby blues?
- The takeaway
You just had a baby — congratulations! The only problem is you’re crying over diaper blowouts, snapping at your spouse, and wishing you could just jump into your car and drive somewhere — anywhere — without worrying about your next breastfeeding session.
What’s up with you? Having a baby is a joyful experience, isn’t it? Yeah, not for everyone — at least, not right away. For many mothers, bringing home a new baby means stress, exhaustion, and pain, as well as coping with a serious set of raging postpartum hormones throwing all of your emotions into hyperdrive.
In other words, it’s totally normal to forget why you chose to kiss your old life goodbye in favor of one filled with around-the-clock newborn care.
Here’s what you need to know about the baby blues, from how they feel to how long they last.
When it’s more than the blues
Some people don’t just have an average case of the “baby blues” after birth; they experience postpartum depression, a more serious condition that requires medical care. Know the signs.
About 80 percent of postpartum mothers have the baby blues, which refer to a short period after giving birth that’s filled with bouts of sadness, anxiety, stress, and mood swings. That means 4 out of 5 new moms report experiencing them — so chances are you will, too (and if you don’t, you can call yourself lucky!).
The baby blues typically strike within a few days of giving birth, but if you had an especially tough delivery, you may notice them even sooner.
Though doctors can’t pinpoint exactly what causes them, their timing tells us a lot. After birth, your body goes through extreme hormonal fluctuations to help you recover and care for your baby, shrinking your uterus back to its normal size and promoting lactation, among other things. Those hormonal changes can also affect a postpartum mom’s state of mind.
The other probable cause? The postpartum period is one during which parents are not sleeping regularly (or much at all, honestly) and coping with all the major changes in routine and lifestyle that come with a new baby. All of these factors combine to pave the way for the baby blues.
The symptoms can start 2 to 3 days after the baby is born. Most of the time, the baby blues go away on their own soon after birth — usually within 10 days but sometimes up to 14 days postpartum. How you experience the baby blues may be different from how your BFF or sister-in-law does, but generally, symptoms of the baby blues include:
•feeling weepy or crying inexplicably over minor triggers
•having mood swings or being especially irritable
•feeling unattached or unbonded to your baby
•missing parts of your old life, like the freedom to go out with friends
•worrying or feeling anxious about your baby’s health and safety
Timeline
If you’re still feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed after 2 weeks postpartum, you may have postpartum depression. (The baby blues typically don’t last longer than 2 weeks.) The baby blues also set in pretty quickly after birth, so if you suddenly begin experiencing symptoms of depression several weeks or months after birth, they’re not the baby blues. Postpartum depression can occur anytime during the first year after having a baby.
Severity of symptoms
What one person considers severe might be more or less so for another person, so this is a little subjective. Typically, the baby blues will leave you feeling down and out of sorts, but they shouldn’t affect your quality of life very much. On the other hand, postpartum depression isn’t something that comes and goes easily throughout the day; the symptoms are more persistent and won’t go away on their own.
You don’t have to do anything, per se, to treat the baby blues — most people find that as they adjust to their new role and settle into a routine with their baby, they begin to feel more like themselves.
That said, the postpartum phase is tough, and it’s important to take care of yourself as best you can. Finding things that make you feel better during this time of transition might help you get back to “normal” (or, at least, find your new normal) a little faster.
•Get as much sleep as you can. We know, sleep is a priceless commodity in your house right now, but listen to your mother: Sleep when the baby sleeps, and let the laundry pile up. Everything seems worse when you’re exhausted. Sometimes, sleeping is the best remedy.
•Ask for help. That laundry we told you to forget about? Your other option is to let someone else do it for you. There are usually people looking for ways to help out new mothers, so when Grandma comes over and asks what she can do, give her a task. Cooking meals, running errands, changing diapers — don’t try to do it all yourself.
•Eat well and get outside. This one doesn’t need much explanation: Feed your body nutritious foods and get some fresh air. It’s simple but effective.
•Talk to someone. It doesn’t have to be a therapist, but if you have one, give them a call. Otherwise, chat with a family member or friend who “gets” you and won’t judge. Sometimes you just need to get stuff off your chest.
The baby blues are a common part of many new parents’ transition to life with baby. Fortunately, they usually go away on their own soon after birth.
However, if you’re still feeling sad or anxious after 2 weeks — or if your symptoms become severe at any point — reach out to a family member, trusted friend, or healthcare provider right away, or call the SAMHSA National Helpline for local resources. The baby blues may be normal and short-lived, but postpartum depression needs to be treated.
What is this booklet for? If you've recently had a baby, you may be finding some areas of life difficult to cope with. This booklet will give you ideas on exercises to help you cope. There are other booklets available in this series, some of which you may find useful: Booklet 1: Thinking about motherhood and babies. Booklet 3: Part 1.
Feb 20, 2023 · What Are the Baby Blues? A mild postpartum mood disorder that affects a large number of new moms. Common symptoms of baby blues include weepiness, mood swings, and fatigue. Baby blues typically last for 14 days after delivery.
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Do new moms get Baby Blues?
The Baby Blues. In fact, most new moms will get the baby blues. These are hormonal changes that can cause anxiety, crying and restlessness that goes away within the first two weeks after giving birth. Also called postpartum blues, the baby blues are actually a mild — and temporary — form of depression that goes away once hormones level out.
