Having a newborn can be exciting and nerve-wrecking at the same time. A baby brings a lot of happiness in your life while also making it seem like all the norms have broken loose. Your daily routine goes for a toss, while day and night merge together to transform you into a sleepwalking zombie. Your body has just produced a living being and has not returned to its normal state. Therefore, it is perfectly normal to go through baby blues amidst all this.
Approximately 70-80% of new mothers experience baby blues syndrome after delivery. This is a short period of unhappiness, anxiety and irritability. A mother might experience the blues 4-5 days after the delivery or earlier depending on the experience of delivery. Baby blues after pregnancy is quite a different story as opposed to the common perception of a glowing, happy new mom.
Not all new mothers experience baby blues, but 70-80% do. A family history of depression or domestic conflicts can increase your chances of having the blues. The time after delivery can be stressful due to the many changes that come about. The system of support available during the period immediately after pregnancy can greatly help a mother in dealing with the blues.
The blues can be due to a variety of reasons such as physical changes, hormonal changes and emotional factors. The level of hormones, oestrogen and progesterone is the highest in a woman’s body during pregnancy. The huge plummet in hormones after delivery can also trigger baby blues. Emotional factors such as wanting to be a perfect mother or thoughts of not doing it right can also affect you. Other factors such as trauma during delivery, difficulty in breastfeeding, sleep deprivation, family history of depression can all cause baby blues.
These are some of the baby blues after birth symptoms:
Baby blues strike almost immediately after the delivery and tend to last for a couple of weeks. Baby blues are the least extreme form of postpartum depression, which lasts longer and require medical attention.
After the rollercoaster ride of pregnancy and delivery, it is quite natural for moms to have the baby blues. If the blues get worse or do not go away after a few weeks, it could be postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression symptoms are similar to that of baby blues but worse. It includes withdrawal from a partner, difficulty in bonding with the baby, anxiety that prevents sleep, feelings of guilt and suicidal thoughts. Several factors such as hormonal changes, physical changes, change in bodily metabolism and stress can lead to depression. Seek counselling help to deal with depression.
Postpartum psychosis is a serious disorder characterised by loss of touch with reality. Suicide and infanticide are the risks associated with the disorder, and hence hospitalisation is essential to keep the mother and baby safe. The symptoms include hallucinations, delusion, extreme anxiety, suicidal thoughts or actions, extreme confusion or disorientation, rapid mood swings, bizarre behaviour and thoughts of harming the baby.
Here are some tips on how to deal with baby blues:
It is quite natural to have baby blues post-delivery, and there is nothing to worry about it. But if your symptoms last for more than a couple of weeks, you might be suffering from postpartum depression. Also, if you develop suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming the baby, seek medical help immediately.