Do You Have Postpartum Depression Or Is It Just The Baby Blues?

Having a baby can be a big game-changer! New moms not only feel happy and proud but also start feeling moody and overwhelmed. If you’re a new mother who feels that way, stop worrying; you are not alone.

It is entirely normal to feel moody or sad for a little while after childbirth. This is because, after childbirth, your hormone levels tend to drop and it can affect your mood. Moreover, your newborn might be waking up at odd hours and taking away most of your sleep. Sleepless nights itself can make you quite irritable.

These are all just postpartum blues or baby blues and you’re likely to feel better after a couple of weeks since your baby is born. But if you continue to feel worse, it could indicate postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can occur about four weeks after childbirth and last up to a year. Read below to find out how to differentiate between baby blues and postpartum depression.

Here’s how you will feel if it’s just the baby blues:

• Irritable
• Overwhelmed
• Anxious
• Mood swings rapidly from happy to sad
• Crying too easily when you feel you’re not up to the task
• No interests in dressing up or eating

But if it is postpartum depression, here’s how you will be feeling:

• Hopelessly sad
• Worthless
• Aloof
• Cry all the time
• Lack of confidence in your role as a new mom
• Unable to bond with your child
• Overwhelming despair
• Anxiety or panic attacks

Just getting enough sleep, eating healthy and exercise can help you feel better if you have the baby blues. But if you find out that you’re suffering from postpartum depression, you need treatment and it is important that you seek help at the earliest.

If your symptoms persist even after a couple of weeks post-childbirth, contact your doctor immediately rather than waiting until your next appointment which is 6 weeks away. Your doctor might prescribe medications like Zulresso (the synthetic version of allopregnanolone hormone) which effectively treats postpartum depression. You might also be prescribed anti-depressant medications or counseling to make you feel better.