Baby Blues Vs PPD - Do I Have the Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?

 
 

With the birth of a new child, many new moms experience negative feelings or mood swings. This is often due to the drastic hormonal changes related to childbirth as well as the substantial changes that occur in our lives after the birth of a new baby.

For instance, the intense sleep deprivation, the transition to a new routine, identity shifts, financial and work implications - just to name a few. All of these changes and stressors put moms and dads at risk for both the “baby blues” and postpartum depression.

How do you know if you have the baby blues vs PPD? First, let’s take a look at the symptoms of each scenario.

What are the Baby Blues?

Symptoms of baby blues include:

  • Weepiness or crying for no apparent reason

  • Impatience

  • Irritability

  • Restlessness

  • Anxiety

  • Fatigue

  • Insomnia (even when the baby is sleeping)

  • Sadness

  • Mood changes

  • Poor concentration

What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?

Symptoms of postpartum depression can include:

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, tearfulness or hopelessness

  • Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy

  • Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

  • Changes in appetite or weight

  • Difficulty bonding with your baby

  • Negative thoughts and feelings about being a mom

  • Feeling shame, guilt or like a failure

  • Irritability, anger, or agitation

  • Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or worried

  • Having severe mood swings

  • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

The Difference Between Baby Blues vs PPD

The timeframe in which symptoms occur is often the distinguishing factor because baby blues should subside after two weeks. If the symptoms continue past two weeks, then a diagnosis of PPD must be considered. With PPD, symptoms can also get more intense and can last up until a year or longer.

How to Treat the Baby Blues

New parents may not be able to fully prevent the onset of the baby blues, but there are a few things one can do to reduce the impact and intensity. These tips really entail taking care of basic needs in those first few weeks postpartum. It may not look so challenging to an outside party, but to new parents, it can sometimes feel elusive.

  • With your partner or support system, plan to have wholesome and adequate meals accessible to nourish yourself. Your postpartum body needs this to heal and if you are breastfeeding, it is important to eat and drink adequately.

  • Enlist the help of others, if possible, to take a few moments each day to rest. With the help of your partner, try to come up with a nighttime schedule to reduce the load on the mother whenever possible (see my blog on postpartum sleep tips here).

  • Try to do some gentle movement a few minutes a day. This can help increase endorphins and increase oxygen flow to the brain. Perhaps take a gentle walk outside, get some fresh air. Remember, take it slow as you are still healing.

  • Line up your village: rely on your emotional support system like friends and family to reach out to when you need to break up your day or when you're feeling strong emotions.

  • Increase compassion & cognitive flexibility toward yourself and your little one’s needs. Throw away unmet & unrealistic expectations, “should” statements, and comparisons. Allow things to just be as they are, without judgment. You are figuring this out, perhaps for the first time, and it's hard. The laundry can wait, the house doesn’t have to be clean and you don’t have to aim for perfection.

How To Treat PPD

Again, if symptoms last past two weeks and feel intense, it's so important to seek support. There is no need to suffer alone and by taking care of yourself, you are also reducing the risk of negative emotional & developmental outcomes for your baby.

If you are suffering from PPD, find a therapist who specializes in treating perinatal mental health. Don’t settle for a general therapist just because they're covered by your insurance. You deserve the right kind of help and your family needs you to be well as soon as possible.

Evidence-based therapy such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT), or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) are appropriate. Traditional talk therapy or long-term therapy like psychoanalysis may not be as effective.

CBT of Central Florida offers online and in-person therapy sessions for new parents, plus virtual group sessions. We know that it can be difficult to talk about negative emotions you may be experiencing with parenthood - our therapists have specialized training in postpartum counseling and perinatal mood & anxiety disorders. Request a consultation here.

 
Chronic Pain, Postpartum CounselingEva S. Reichel, RCSWI