Know the Signs: When It Is Baby Blues OR Post-Natal Depression
You’ve just had a baby. You expected to be basking in new mom bliss. You expected to be celebrating the arrival of your little one with your friends and family. But instead of celebrating, you feel like crying. You were prepared for joy and excitement, not exhaustion, anxiety, and weepiness.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of both baby blues and postpartum depression before giving birth is necessary for any expecting mum and dad. While baby blues is a short-lived mood changes, postpartum depression is more severe and persistent.
READ ALSO: How Woman Who Doubted She Was Pregnant Followed Instructions On Youtube to Birth Her Baby Alone
The Baby Blues
During the first week after childbirth, many women get what’s often called the ‘baby blues’. Women can feel down or depressed at a time when they expect they should feel happy at having a baby to look after. ‘Baby blues’ are probably due to the sudden hormonal and chemical changes that take place in your body after childbirth.
Symptoms can include:
- feeling emotional and irrational
- bursting into tears for no apparent reason
- feeling irritable or touchy
- feeling depressed or anxious
All these symptoms are normal and usually only last for a few days.
Post-Natal Depression (PND)
Depression after a baby is born can be extremely distressing. Postnatal depression is thought to affect around one in 10 women (and up to four in 10 teenage mothers).
Many women suffer in silence. Their friends, relatives and health professionals don’t know how they’re feeling.
Postnatal depression usually occurs two to eight weeks after the birth, though sometimes it can happen up to a year after the baby is born.
Symptoms such as tiredness, irritability or poor appetite are normal if you’ve just had a baby. But these are usually mild and don’t stop you leading a normal life.
When you have postnatal depression, you may feel increasingly depressed and despondent. Looking after yourself or your baby may become too much.
READ ALSO: Why Giving Your Baby Water While On Exclusive Breastfeeding Could Be Deadly
Emotional signs of postnatal depression may include:
- loss of interest in the baby
- feelings of hopelessness
- not being able to stop crying
- feelings of not being able to cope
- not being able to enjoy anything
- memory loss or being unable to concentrate
- excessive anxiety about the baby
Other signs of postnatal depression may also include:
- panic attacks
- sleeplessness
- extreme tiredness
- aches and pains
- feeling generally unwell
- anxiety
- loss of appetite
READ ALSO: 10 Basic Things To Do Before a Baby’s Arrival
Getting Help
If you think you have postnatal depression, don’t struggle alone. It’s not a sign that you’re a bad mother or are unable to cope. Postnatal depression is an illness and you need to get help, just as you would if you had the flu or a broken leg. Talk to someone you trust, such as your partner or a friend and most definitely, your doctor.
Source: NHS
Great article. Thanks for sharing MIM.
I think Post natal depression should be included in antenatal classes.Most women who go through it don’t even know what is happening to them and they could do irrational things that they will regret later
I didn’t experienced either of these. But will relate to some of d expectants mother.
It’s happened to me once, thank God am over it naw
Tnkx for sharing
Tnx 4 d infor, I experienced baby blues with my 2nd son.
Hmmm. Thanks MIM for sharing.
Thanks for sharing MIM.
Very inspiring thanks for sharing
Am yet to experience this.
cant remember experiencing any bt will pay more attention next time,thanks
ok,MIM thanks for sharing
Tnx fr sharing dis
i experienced this with my first baby
Thanks for d infor
I haven’t experienced any of these in fact it’s the pregnancy itself that makes me depressed
Tnx admin
Thanks MIM