Baby Blues Vs Postpartum Depression: What's the Difference?

Postpartum depression vs baby blues – which one do you have? How are the features of the baby blues different from the symptoms of peripartum?

Finally cradling the baby in your arms is supposed to give you the joy you never thought imaginable. The only problem is that you feel none of the so-called mother’s bliss. In fact, all you are is a big ball of sadness and anxiety post-birth.

It’s natural to feel this way for a short period of time. Hormone levels drop after giving birth, which affects your mood. You’re probably not getting enough sleep because your newborn is waking up at odd hours. That alone can irritate you.

You may simply be concerned about caring for your infant, which causes you to experience stress that you haven’t experienced before. Sounds like a case of baby blues… or could this be the onset of postpartum depression?

Postpartum Depression vs Baby Blues

If it’s any consolation, you are not the first mother to experience these emotional ups and downs. Up to 80 per cent of new mothers experience “baby blues,” which are short-term emotional swings triggered by all of the changes that come with a new baby.

These feelings are common when your infant is only 2 or 3 days old, but they should pass by the time your baby is 1 or 2 weeks old.

If your unhappiness lasts longer than that, or worsens instead of improving, you may be suffering from postpartum depression. It is more intense and lasts longer than the baby blues, and roughly 10 per cent of women experience it. If you’ve previously experienced depression or if it runs in your family, you’re more likely to experience postpartum depression.

How can you know if you have postpartum depression or the baby blues?

When You Have the Baby Blues – Symptoms

Image Source: iStock

It is estimated that between 50 to 85 per cent of new mothers experience postpartum blues after giving birth.

Postpartum blues are not considered a psychiatric disease because of how common the experience is, but rather a normal postpartum symptom, similar to afterbirth pains and postpartum bleeding.

Your body and hormone levels change dramatically after having birth. Caring for your infant can be exhausting, and you may experience any of the following symptoms:

• Impatience
• Restlessness
• Crying for no apparent reason
• Disappointed feelings
• Having difficulty falling asleep, even when you have plenty of time to do so
• Exhaustion
• Feeling irritable or “off”
• General feelings of overwhelm
• Experiencing happiness one minute and grief the next
• Your mood swings from happy to sad quickly. One minute, you’re proud of your work as a new mother. The next thing you know, you’re crying because you don’t think you’re up to the task.
• You’re fatigued and don’t want to eat or take care of yourself.
• You’re irritable, overwhelmed, and worried.

Without treatment, the “baby blues” normally go away within a few days. If your symptoms worsen or you find it increasingly difficult to complete everyday duties, you may be suffering from postpartum depression.

When Postpartum Depression Strikes

Postpartum depression can initially appear to be the regular newborn blues. Indeed, many symptoms of postpartum depression and baby blues are similar, including mood swings, sobbing fits, melancholy, insomnia, and irritability.

The difference is that the symptoms of postpartum depression are more severe (such as suicidal thoughts or an inability to care for your newborn) and stay longer.

Postpartum depression is a mild to severe form of depression that occurs after childbirth and can impair your capacity to care for yourself and your family.

Lower-income mothers and women of colour are more likely to have a postpartum mental illness – and less likely to receive treatment for it. However, it is critical to get help if your mood is interfering with your daily life and your bond with your newborn.

The symptoms are more severe than “baby blues,” and they can include any of the following:

• Inability to concentrate, confusion, or recall details
• Changes in appetite
• Resentment and mood swings that are intense
• Uncontrollable sobbing
• Over-attention or disinterest in the infant
• Social disengagement and feelings of isolation
• Apprehension about injuring the newborn or yourself
• You always feel hopeless, unhappy, useless, or alone, and you cry a lot.
• You may find yourself distancing from your partner or struggling to bond with your child.
• You don’t think you’re doing a good job as a new mother.
• You are not bonding with your child.
• You are unable to eat, sleep, or care for your infant due to your overwhelming despair.
• You may experience anxiety and panic episodes.

Because of the variety of symptoms, only a healthcare expert can identify postpartum depression.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression to Look Out For

• Severe mood swings and intense irritability or anger

Baby blues may simply make you feel irritable to a certain degree, but nothing a little comfort may cure – affection from the husband, a little ‘me’ time, or a simple indulgence like chocolate.

Postpartum depression makes you feel more out of control with your anger that mood swings become extreme, sometimes triggering thoughts of harming yourself or worse, your baby.

• Loss of interest

In postpartum depression, you feel like you’ve lost all interest in things that used to get you up and going. You go about your day with a feeling like all joy and spirit have been sucked out of you. You lack the appetite for life, you don’t want to see friends and family, and you don’t even feel the least bit interested to make love to your partner.

Watch out for this postpartum depression symptom, as this may result in a dent in your marriage and relationships.

• Severe drop in self-esteem

After giving birth, you start feeling like a worthless nobody. This is clearly a sign of postpartum depression as thoughts of inadequacy as an individual start to get to your head, making you lose esteem and drive like none of what you do is worth it.

If you feel like your self-esteem is taking a beating post-birth, surround yourself with people who love and care for you to validate your self-worth.

• You can’t – and don’t feel like – bonding with your baby

Postpartum depression makes you nothing short of indifferent towards your little one. When the sight of your own baby just makes you want to run the other way instead of overwhelming you with that motherly glow, this is a red flag for postpartum depression. 

Studies have shown how postpartum depression could have long-term behavioural and emotional repercussions on the baby.

When any of these symptoms come to play, or if you just feel unusually out of it even with your new title as ‘Mum,’ then immediately seek the advice of your health practitioner for possible medication, and create a solid support system to help you through this tough time, whether it’s the baby blues or diagnosed postpartum depression.

This is when a baby needs all the love and care that they can easily get from you as a mum so making sure you are physically and emotionally healthy will give you the best reward you can ever ask for – invaluable time with your baby.

So, is it postpartum depression or just the baby blues? Here’s a quick table to summarise:

Treating Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Baby Blues

It’s normal for new mums to experience postpartum blues. So if you do what your body requires during this stressful period, you should begin to feel better.

• Get as much sleep as you can and rest when your baby is sleeping.
• Consume health-promoting foods. With proper nourishment in your system, you’ll feel better.
• Take a walk. Exercise, fresh air, and sunlight can all help.
• Accept aid when it is offered.
• Relax. Don’t be concerned about chores. Concentrate solely on yourself and your child.

Postpartum Depression

You may not want to tell someone that you are depressed following the birth of your child. However, treatment can help you feel like yourself again, so it’s critical to seek help as soon as possible.

If you experience signs of postpartum depression or if the baby blues do not subside after two weeks, contact your doctor without delay. Do not put off your 6-week checkup.

Your doctor may give brexanolone (Zulresso), a novel synthetic version of the hormone allopregnanolone that has been shown to be useful in treating postpartum depression symptoms. They may also recommend therapy or medicines to alleviate your problems.

Luckily, baby blues could go away in a few weeks’ time. Postpartum depression, on the other hand, could last as short as a few weeks, but in some cases, go on for months or even years. 

The reason why people easily mistake baby blues for postpartum depression is because of the similarities in symptoms. But postpartum depression takes on a more serious condition, brought on by hormonal or physical changes, and the stress coupled with having a new baby.

Image source: iStock

What You Can Do to Assist Your Wife or Partner

Men, the moment after giving birth is a very challenging phase for a woman. A mother is born and she is now trying to navigate this new world she is in, all while recovering from giving birth and taking care of a newborn. So your support is vital to ensure that your wife or partner goes through this stage without suffering from long-term mental disorders.

Here are some reminders:

• Encourage her to express her emotions. Listen to her without passing judgment or providing solutions. Instead of attempting to solve things, simply provide a shoulder for her to lean on.
• Help around the house. Participate in housekeeping and childcare tasks. Don’t wait for her to inquire!
• Make sure she gets some alone time. Rest and relaxation are essential. Encourage her to take breaks, hire a nanny, or plan some date evenings.
• If she isn’t ready for sex, be patient. Because depression decreases sex drive, it may take some time before she is in the mood. Offer her physical attention, but don’t press if she’s not interested in sex.
• Take her for a walk. Exercise can help with depression, but it’s difficult to get motivated when you’re down. Make walks a daily ritual for the two of you to help her.

Republished with permission from theAsianparent Philippines. 

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