Contrary to what some people believe, the baby blues and postpartum depression are not the same. Although they are both common, they can be different when it comes to how intense the symptoms are and how long they last. Let’s break it down and identify the differences.
The Timeline
Baby blues are common in new mothers and can start within a few days after the baby is born. It typically lasts just a couple of weeks.
Postpartum depression can start within a few weeks after birth or even during pregnancy. It can last for months or even years.
Symptoms
Leading symptoms of baby blues include: Crying and feeling sad, feeling irritable or moody, feeling anxiety, having trouble sleeping, even when baby is sleeping, being impatient, having trouble concentrating .
Leading symptoms of postpartum depression include: Crying and feeling overwhelmingly sad, feeling moody or having excessive mood swings, having trouble sleeping, even when baby is sleeping, a lack of interest in your baby, feeling overwhelmed, appetite changes (usually decreased), feeling hopeless, it can also include thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
Some of the symptoms are similar, such as sadness, irritability and trouble sleeping, however, postpartum depression typically has additional more intense symptoms.
Causes
It’s not possible to pinpoint the reason that one person may struggle with baby blues or postpartum depression and another will not. Both physical and emotional changes are usually contributors.
Hormonal changes after childbirth can lead to mood swings and the short term symptoms associated with baby blues.
As with the timeline and symptoms, the cause of postpartum depression also seems to be a little more complex. There is a drop in the estrogen and progesterone hormones in your body after childbirth and this can lead to postpartum depression. You can also feel tired, sluggish or depressed as a result of a sharp drop in hormones produced by your thyroid gland.
“When you’re sleep deprived and overwhelmed, you may have trouble handling even minor problems. You may be anxious about your ability to care for a newborn. You may feel less attractive, struggle with your sense of identity or feel that you’ve lost control over your life. Any of these issues can contribute to postpartum depression.”
How it’s Treated
To treat baby blues, it’s important for new mothers to look for solutions to prioritize rest because lack of sleep can lead to exhaustion and exacerbate symptoms. Staying connected with others, including regular communication and visits with friends and family is important so that you don’t feel isolated or alone and can feel like yourself. Taking time for yourself is also essential because it’s easy to put all your time and energy into taking care of the baby, which leads to neglecting your own needs. Take a walk, take a few minutes to do some breath work or participate in a hobby that you enjoy so that you feel like yourself.
All of the same things mentioned above that help with baby blues can also be helpful for postpartum depression. But as discussed, postpartum depression is more intense and considered a mental health condition, therefore it may require medication and therapy in order to manage it. Perinatal therapy may be an option and we discussed that in a previous blog here. Treatment and time to recover will be different for each individual depending on severity and their individual needs.
Whether you are experiencing baby blues or postpartum depression, you should not be embarrassed as it is very common in new mothers. There is nothing you did to bring it on and there is help available. If you are struggling with this, contact us, we can help.
