Few days or weeks after giving birth to your beautiful baby, you wake up and know something is different. You feel emotional, struggle with crying spells, anxiety, and insomnia.
Most of the time, this passes quickly, and you go back to enjoying your baby. However, for 23% of mothers who recently gave birth, these feelings are more intense, last longer, and might require help from a psychologist who specializes in peripartum mental health.
Intensity of the emotions
The main difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression is the intensity of the emotions. Baby blues make new moms unhappy, but postpartum blues can drag you down to the darkest hole where you feel like there is no way out.
Baby blues might make you feel worried, but postpartum anxiety makes you believe that all the worst things are going to happen to your baby and keeps you extra vigilant about every possible threat in the environment. This extra anxiety can keep you up at night, so you can check your baby’s breathing.
Duration of feeling down and anxious
When a new mom experiences baby blues, it comes suddenly but also leaves quickly. Baby blues typically begin within the first two to three days after delivery and may last up to two weeks.
Postpartum depression, however, can last for months or even years if not treated. There might be better days, but there is always an underlying feeling that you could be happier, or something bad is going to happen, or you are not worthwhile.
A lot of times people also feel like they are a burden to their family – that nagging sense that you are not good enough for your family and they might be better off without you.
Professional support is needed
New moms who are going through a bout of baby blues usually feel supported by their partner, friends, or other family members. They feel like getting that extra help from people around them is enough to get out of this emotional rollercoaster.
Postpartum depression (PPD), however, does not go away just because you get extra support or can share what you are going through with a dear friend. Not to say that those things are not helpful, but the all-consuming sadness and worry don’t let them enjoy these good moments too long. Eventually, PPD may start interfering with your ability to take care of your baby or handle other household tasks.
In Canada, 23% of new moms report feelings that are intense and last long enough to be diagnosed with postpartum depression or anxiety. If you suspect that your feelings of sadness, worry, and fatigue are more than baby blues, reach out to your partner, family doctor, or book a consultation with a perinatal mental health specialist.
Still not sure if you would benefit from counselling? Book a free 20-minute consultation, and let’s figure it our together!
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