What Are Postpartum Blues?
Postpartum blues is a mild and short-term mood disorder that results after pregnancy. It is one of the most common types of postpartum depression.
Sometimes termed the “baby blues,” this condition is something that many new mothers experience.
As a new parent, you will go through periods of happiness, joy, sadness, and frustration.
Even if you feel overwhelmingly grateful for a new child, the baby blues can cause you to feel sad or cry when you usually wouldn’t. Moodiness and sadness are characteristic of the baby blues.
Postpartum blues can set in immediately after giving birth. Fortunately for most, it is usually a temporary condition.
It is not considered a serious or severe condition by medical health professionals. Instead, it’s a normal response to changing hormone levels, exhaustion, and the life-changing event of having a baby.
Postpartum Blues Symptoms
The following are the most commonly reported postpartum blues symptoms that mothers, fathers, and same-sex partners may experience:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Feelings of sadness
- Bursting into tears
- Feeling on edge or overly sensitive
- Physical and mental exhaustion
- Anxiety and worry
- Feeling empty or lonely
- Feeling stressed or overwhelmed
- Confusion about your emotions
- Not being able to cope
- Trouble sleeping or difficulty falling asleep
What Do Postpartum Blues Feel Like?
Most often, people who experience the baby blues describe it as an emotional roller coaster. Distinct periods of sadness are interspersed with feelings of joy and happiness in caring for the new baby.
Many new mothers also experience feelings of reaching an anti-climactic state.
Pregnancy is a long journey that creates lots of anticipation. After the birth of a baby, some women and even men experience confusion because their real feelings don’t match their expectations.
How Long Do Postpartum Blues Last?
Postpartum blues symptoms typically start within the first 48 to 72 hours after delivering a baby. These symptoms generally last about two weeks, with symptoms tending to peak shortly after the first week.
Yet these are the limitations of postpartum blues symptoms. If you are experiencing more severe and chronic symptoms, you may struggle with postpartum depression (PPD) or a more serious postpartum condition.
If symptoms persist or worsen after 14 days, you should inform your physician or a mental health professional immediately.
Postpartum Blues vs. Postpartum Depression
It is not always easy to tell the difference between postpartum blues and postpartum depression (PPD), especially if you are still in the early stages after giving birth.
These conditions have many of the same symptoms, although postpartum blues is a more mild and short-term version of postpartum depression.
Key differences between postpartum blues and PPD include:
- Postpartum blues start within a couple days after giving birth, while postpartum depression can start any time in the first year after giving birth.
- Postpartum blues last only a few days to a couple of weeks, while postpartum depression can last months and even years if not treated.
- Postpartum blues cause only a minor disruption in daily life, while postpartum depression can have a severe impact on your daily functioning and ability to care for your baby.
- Postpartum blues symptoms are mild and resolve on their own without treatment. Symptoms of postpartum depression are severe and frequently require treatments such as talk therapy and antidepressants.
Postpartum blues are also very common, affecting up to 80% of new parents. Postpartum depression is much less common and only affects around 10-20% of new mothers.
Who Is Affected by Postpartum Blues?
Postpartum blues is thought to affect anywhere from 70 to 80% of women who have given birth.
It can affect women after any pregnancy, not just the first one. The condition is so prevalent that many medical health professionals think it is simply a normal part of the postpartum experience.
Also, men can experience postpartum blues. Statistics have shown that as many as 25% of men experience these milder baby blues as “sad dads.”
People from all backgrounds, races, ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic levels have reported feeling the baby blues.
Whether you have a family history or a personal history of depression, you may experience the postpartum blues if you or your spouse recently had a baby.
Postpartum Blues Causes
Experts believe postpartum blues are caused by a sudden drop in the estrogen and progesterone levels that women experience after birth.
During pregnancy, women have hormone levels at 20 to 30 times greater than when not pregnant.
The physical exertion of childbirth also creates a chemical high in the brain. Thus, sudden and temporary sadness may occur as your brain’s neurotransmitters adjust your body to normal hormone levels after giving birth.
In addition to hormonal changes, having a new baby also presents a new set of responsibilities and changes in life routines. Adjusting to this new life can cause parents to feel overwhelmed and worried for the first two weeks after childbirth.
Postpartum Blues Risk Factors
While there is no specific cause of postpartum blues, certain factors can contribute to its development.
Common factors that can increase the risk for postpartum blues include:
- Sleep deprivation
- Fatigue
- Other pre-existing medical conditions
- Other pre-existing mental health conditions like anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder
- Marital problems
- Lack of social or family support
- Being a young or first-time parent
- Low socioeconomic status
- Formula feeding instead of breastfeeding
It’s important to note that these are just potential risk factors that can cause postpartum blues. Women who have none of these risk factors can still develop postpartum blues.
Because it is such a versatile condition, the real cause of its development in each individual may never be fully understood.
Diagnosing Postpartum Blues
Your healthcare providers will assess your feelings and emotions regularly after giving birth, including several times before you leave the hospital with your newborn.
There is no official diagnosis for the baby blues. However, your physician may want to follow up with you if there are any reasons for concern or if you are at an increased risk of postpartum depression.
If your symptoms persist or become more severe, be proactive and schedule an appointment with your doctor or a mental health care professional.
You will likely complete screening questionnaires during this appointment and discuss your recent symptoms and experiences.
This allows your doctor to rule out or confirm more serious conditions, such as postpartum depression or anxiety, so you can get treatment if necessary.
When to Get Help for Baby Blues
While the postpartum blues is not considered too serious, it has the potential to turn into postpartum depression. PPD can be pretty serious and even turn into major depression or postpartum psychosis if left untreated.
Signs that it is time to seek help for the baby blues include:
- Your symptoms are getting worse or more intense
- Your symptoms have lasted longer than two weeks
- You’ve lost interest in activities you once enjoyed or cared about
- You are having difficulties eating and sleeping
- You are having trouble caring for yourself or your baby
- You have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Remember: nothing is wrong with you if you cannot shake the baby blues, just as there is no shame in seeking help.
The important thing is to do what is best for you and your baby and to take action toward feeling better as soon as possible.
Postpartum Blues Treatment
The best treatment for postpartum blues is plenty of rest combined with regular exercise, meals, and water. Postpartum blues shouldn’t require medication or therapy.
While postpartum blues is the mildest and most common form of postpartum depression, talking about your emotions post-pregnancy and communicating openly is crucial.
The feelings you are experiencing are common and valid. If you feel any shame or guilt, discussing these with your partner or close family or friends is important. That way, you can begin to heal and recover.
Provided you care for yourself in the weeks following childbirth, your baby blues symptoms will likely disappear as quickly as they came on.
Tips for Managing Postpartum Blues
The postpartum blues are usually mild and clear up without treatment, but this does not mean that they are necessarily easy to live with in the meantime.
Some days may be harder than others, but there are steps you can take to make the baby blues more manageable and clear up faster.
Tips for managing postpartum blues include:
- Ask loved ones for help with the baby or housework.
- Know your limits, and don’t try to do more than you are capable of.
- Take breaks when you can, especially if you can get outside for fresh air.
- Treat yourself to a post-natal massage or pedicure.
- Join a support group for new mothers.
- Let your partner know how you are feeling and suggest ways they can help.
- Practice relaxation techniques like breathing exercises, yoga, or meditation.
- Set healthy boundaries and limit time with visitors to focus on yourself and your baby,
- Keep track of your feelings and know when to seek professional help.
If you have postpartum blues, be patient and kind to yourself. Know that you are not alone and that what you are going through is common and expected.
Find Hope and Support for Postpartum Blues
The postpartum blues can be scary, especially if you are a first-time mom and you don’t know what to expect. It is highly common, however, to come through on the other side as a happy and healthy mom.
Many supportive resources are available to you for help when and if you decide you need it.
If you decide therapy is a good option, please visit our free and comprehensive database of therapists in your area.
Postpartum Blues FAQs
How can you get rid of postpartum blues?
While the postpartum blues should only last for a couple of weeks at most, you can start feeling better faster and improve your well-being by:
- Reaching out to friends and family members for help
- Getting plenty of rest
- Eating well
- Avoiding alcohol and recreational drugs
- Asking your spouse or partner for help
- Connecting with other moms in person or online
Is it normal to cry a lot after having a baby?
Yes, it is customary to cry a lot right after having a baby and in the following days. This is a highly emotional time for most women, and they are dealing with many changes in a short period.
However, these feelings are not typical to continue beyond a couple of weeks. If this happens, you may want to seek professional help.
When do postpartum blues start?
Postpartum blues start for most women around two or three days after giving birth, though for some, it can start earlier or later.
To be considered postpartum blues and not something more serious, you should start to feel better within two weeks.
