Signs you may have more than the ‘baby blues’

The purpose of this blog post is to shed some light on the differences between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression. It can be hard to tell how common or more intense your experience is after your baby is born. Knowing you qualify for a perinatal mood & anxiety disorder (PMAD) can help you feel better and get help sooner, rather than later. I  hope you come away from reading this blogpost feeling informed, hopeful and compelled to get extra support, if you need it.

First, what exactly are the “baby blues?!  The “baby blues” are the mood swings that new moms experience as she adjusts to hormones, immediately after birth, that are not related to stress or psychological illness. During this time, a woman can find herself feeling irritable, crying for no reason, restless and/or anxious.

Quick Facts on Baby Blues

1)   Up to 70% of new moms experience the baby blues

2)   The “baby blues” typically start 2-3 days after birth

3)   These symptoms of mood swings are at their peak 3-5 days after your baby is born and typically resolve on their own.

Comparatively, according to the DSM, postpartum depression is shown when a woman shows at least 5 of the below symptoms that last longer than 4 weeks:

• Feeling sad or depressed most or all of the time

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

• Increase or decrease change in appetite

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue

• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to be still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech [these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others]

• Feeling worthless or guilty

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide*

• Crying for “no reason”

• Lack of interest or feeling bonded to the baby

• Feelings of being a bad mother

• Fear of harming the baby or yourself*

  Please call 911 immediately if you are having any thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else

One of the most important distinctions between the "baby blues” & PMAD is that the “baby blues” do not last longer than two weeks!! If your baby was born over two weeks ago and you are still experiencing symptoms of depression (shown above), it is imperative that you get evaluated for a perinatal mood disorder.  There is an estimate that 1/7 women experience symptoms of peripartum depression. These terms can be confusing, but basically: Peripartum is defined as the time between pregnancy and 4 weeks following delivery; Postpartum depression signifies an episode of major depression that begins within the first 4 weeks following birth. What’s important to remember is that research indicates that postpartum is defined as the time immediately after a woman gives birth and up to 3 years following.

So… what do you do if it’s been longer than two weeks and you still aren’t feeling like yourself?

1) Get help from a mental health professional, especially if your symptoms continue after two weeks, you have thoughts of harming yourself or others or it is difficult to complete daily tasks. Treatment for PPD is effective with therapy, medication or a combination of the two.

2) Find a community or group of people in the same stage as life you! This can include a local parenting group, a church, online support or asking neighbors, friends, a babysitter or family member.  Look for ways you can ask other people for both practical and emotional help. Please don’t think you have to figure this out by yourself!

3) Get out of the house! If the weather is nice, take the baby outside and go for a walk. If it’s cold, get the baby in the car seat and go for a drive. A change of scenery can be a game changer! Don’t underestimate how effective going to a different location or doing one thing different can be.

 4)  Be kind to yourself and offer yourself the grace you’d give to someone else you know in this situation. Sometimes it is easier to be nicer to other people than to ourselves. How would you respond to a friend or stranger who told you they just had a baby and were having trouble adjusting? Would you shame them or be understanding? Encourage yourself the way you would to that new Mama.

 I hope that after reading this article, you feel seen, encouraged and no shame. Adjusting to motherhood is no easy task ; it is brave to seek support and invite others to be a part of  your journey. One of the greatest honors of my life has been working with moms and helping them to feel more confident in remembering who they are: you are exactly the mother your child needs!

If you or someone you care about is struggling with adjusting to motherhood, please know that there is help available to you.  No matter where you are in your motherhood journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Zeller & Co. Therapy and schedule a free consultation today.

Best,

 Emily Zeller, LMFT