Though it sounds like the name to a cute baby song, the baby blues can be very serious and sometimes even develop into postpartum depression. The baby blues are what a new mother can experience in the first week or two after giving birth to her new baby. She might find that she cries at the drop of a hat, she is irritable, lonely, sad or restless. Although it does not affect all mothers, it is a fairly common occurrence that every new mom should monitor for.
The baby blues are the name given specifically to the feelings a new mother might have immediately following childbirth. Signs of the baby blues usually show up right away but don’t normally last more than 2 weeks. It’s important to remember that there are a lot of hormone changes in a new mother and typically the baby blues are not very serious.
Although the baby blues don’t usually require professional treatment, it may be helpful for the new mother to surround herself with friends, family and loved ones. Teaming up with other new moms can be helpful to as the baby blues is usually just the mom adjusting to her new life with her baby.
On the other hand, postpartum depression can be a very serious issue in which the mother should seek medical treatment. The worst cases of postpartum depression can last for up to one year. The symptoms are similar to those of the baby blues: irritability, loneliness, sadness and restlessness. If treated early enough, postpartum depression can usually be solved with counseling, however in more severe cases, medication may be recommended.
If you don’t think the baby blues and postpartum depression are bad enough, it can get worse. Postpartum psychosis is a very serious illness that affects only a small handful of new mothers. Symptoms of postpartum depression can be very serious and include hallucinations, delusions and strong feelings of anger. Signs of postpartum psychosis typically show up within the first three months and should be dealt with quickly if they do.
The baby blues and postpartum depression are not limited only to those who gave birth. These illnesses can affect woman who have miscarried or recently stopped breastfeeding as well. It is also important to note that new mothers referred only to the fact that the mother had a baby recently, not to the number of children she has. No matter how many children a mother has, she is equally at risk for developing any type of postpartum depression.
Treatment for postpartum depression can range from simply taking a nap to getting professional help. Any new mother experiencing signs of postpartum depression should try to spend more time with other people, get out of the house or spend time with other new people. If the symptoms don’t seem to subside, the new mom should definitely talk to her doctor to devise a treatment plan.
Postpartum depression is a serious side effect to pregnancy, but with the right treatment, every new mom can enjoy spending time with her new baby instead of being depressed about it.
The Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression! 