Sandra Stein

Having a baby is a major life change that can be both elating and exhausting, and can lead to a jumble of emotions following the birth of your little one. Postpartum blues refers to the temporary feelings of depression, weepiness, and fluctuating emotions felt by many women shortly after giving birth. According to The National Institute of Mental Health, it is experienced by up to 80 percent of new mothers. The exact cause of postpartum blues isn’t fully understood, but symptoms are thought to be triggered by a combination of chemical changes in the brain resulting from the sudden drop in the body’s levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones immediately following childbirth, coupled with sleep deprivation, fatigue, and feeling overwhelmed by the added responsibility of caring for a newborn. Symptoms of postpartum blues usually appear within the first few days after delivery, do not interfere with your ability to function or to take care of your infant, and disappear on their own within a couple of weeks once your hormones level out. How is that different from postpartum depression? Postpartum depression typically shows up from two weeks to three months after the baby’s birth. At first, the symptoms may seem similar to those of postpartum blues, but they are more intense, last longer, and left untreated, worsen over time, hindering your ability to care for yourself or your baby and leaving you feeling trapped by the responsibilities of motherhood. Common symptoms of postpartum blues and depression. Postpartum Blues Feeling overwhelmed. Unexplained waves of sadness. Frequent mood swings. Feeling happy one moment and weepy the next. Oversensitivity. Lots of tears. Fatigue. Feeling too exhausted to take care of yourself. Feeling less attractive. Irritability and grumpiness. Restlessness. Fear and anxiety. Trouble sleeping or eating properly. Feeling uncertain about your ability to [...]