New Parents? What You Need To Know About The Difference Between the Postpartum Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Becoming a new parent can be exciting and wonderful. It can also be scary and overwhelming. The emotional rollercoaster that begins, for some during pregnancy, and others after the baby is born, can be confusing. So how do you know if what you are experiencing is something that you can weather on your own or if you need extra support? To answer this question, you have to know the difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression (PPD).

There are some similarities and some differences between the two, and certainly a spectrum from mild to severe. What is important for you is to be able to know if and when you need to get help.

The baby blues can start anywhere within the first 10 days after delivery and last up to 2-3 weeks.

Here are some common signs of the baby blues:

1. Tearfulness
2. Feeling overwhelmed
3. Feeling down
4. Mood swings

Postpartum depression can start anywhere from a few days after delivery to a little over a year after delivery.

Here are some common symptoms of postpartum depression:

1. Feeling overwhelmed
2. Feelings of anger and rage
3. Lack of feelings toward the baby
4. Difficulty taking care of yourself and/or family
5. Loss of interest, joy, or pleasure
6. Anxiety
7. Isolation
8. Don’t feel like yourself
9. Mood swings
10. Feeling worthless
11. Feeling like “they are better off without me”, or “ I just want to disappear”
12. Suicidal thoughts

You can see that some of the symptoms are similar. The distinction between the baby blues and postpartum depression are timing, severity, and duration.

The baby blues are temporary,  don’t impair functioning, you still feel like yourself, and therefore, doesn’t require intervention. The symptoms are mild and are experienced by 60-80% of women.

Postpartum depression, while it can start at the same time as the baby blues, can also start much later, even after your baby’s first birthday. Sometimes breastfeeding can help with staving off symptoms by delaying the plummeting of estrogen and progesterone until you decide to stop breastfeeding.

However, not all women are sensitive to hormone shifts.

And hormones are only a piece of what can contribute to experiencing depression after childbirth. 

Like most things, there is a spectrum of intensity, from mild to severe.

If you are still feeling symptoms of the baby blues after 2 to 3 weeks, then you are experiencing postpartum depression. You may be experiencing a mild form of PPD, but you may still want to contact a professional to see if you need further support.  

Moderate can look more like feeling inadequate as a mother, not feeling like yourself, wondering if you will ever be happy again, or feeling overwhelmed most of the time. Therefore, it can be important to reach out for support if your symptoms are moderate.

Severe can look like all of the above, along with feeling like your family would be better off without you, or thoughts of hurting yourself. So if your symptoms are severe, it is very important to get help.

Please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

1 in 5 women experiences postpartum depression. The first discussion of women struggling with mood reactions after childbirth goes back as far as  460 B.C. with Hippocrates. It is more common than you think. And you don’t have to go through it alone.

I myself am a survivor and I have worked with many women struggling and coming out on the other side. You can get through this. There are options for getting help. If you are looking for a therapist and/or prescriber, make sure they are fully versed in working with maternal mental health. You may also find support groups in your area. Having a support system is such an important part of healing. 

Note: This is only a list of possible symptoms of PPD. This doesn’t include other symptoms related to perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. If you don’t see your symptoms on the list, go to Postpartum Support International for more information. 

Now that you have some understanding of the difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression, you can make some decisions on what might work best for you. Remember that PPD is common. You are not alone in this experience.

Becoming a mother for the first time can feel isolating. It is important for you to reach out for support, even if it is just talking to a friend in a similar phase of life. This can set the stage for you both to share similar stories that create a shared mutual experience. Motherhood is wonderful and hard. It really does take a village.

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 Jacqueline V Cohen is a Licensed Professional Counselor and an ADHD Certified Clinical Specialists Provider who works with courageous women and mothers with ADHD, who want to live authentically, using their inherent strengths and personal values, not the unrealistic expectations of society. To learn more about her practice, explore her website. You can also follow her on Facebook and Instagram.