Baby Blues

Postpartum blues, also called the "baby blues," are common during the first few days after childbirth. You may lose sleep, feel irritable, cry easily, and feel happy one minute and sad the next. Hormone changes are one cause of these emotional changes. The demands of a new baby, coupled with visits from relatives or other family needs, can add to your stress. The "baby blues" usually peak around the fourth day and then ease up in less than 2 weeks.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of the baby blues include:

• Trouble sleeping.
• Mood swings.
• Tearfulness.
• Anxiety.
• Sadness.
• Hopelessness.
• Irritability.
• Poor concentration.

In some cases the baby blues become a more serious condition called postpartum depression. You may also hear it called perinatal depression. Symptoms can begin during pregnancy or after childbirth. If your moodiness or anxiety lasts for more than 2 weeks, or if you feel like life isn't worth living, you may have postpartum depression.

How can you care for yourself?

It's common to feel down, anxious, or irritable during the first few days after giving birth. But there are many things you can do to help take care of yourself as you adjust to having a new baby.

• Ask for help from others, so you can get as much sleep, healthy food, exercise, and overall support as possible.
• Talk to your doctor or midwife before drinking alcohol or caffeine and taking other drugs or medicines.
• Check in with your doctor or midwife. Close monitoring after childbirth is important. If you have an increased risk for developing postpartum depression, follow up with your doctor or midwife 1 to 3 weeks after giving birth.
• Join a support group of parents with new babies. For more information on support groups, see the website for Postpartum Support International at www.postpartum.net or talk to your doctor or midwife. You can also call the Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) for support.