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Baby blues & postpartum depression

Baby blues are common after delivery

Baby blues – feeling weepy, exhausted and nervous – can come and go as your body adjusts during the first two weeks after delivery. Up to 80 percent of new mothers experience some form of baby blues. But if these feelings go on longer than the first two weeks after delivery, you may have postpartum depression (PPD). This condition affects about 10 to 15 percent of new mothers.

Know the signs of postpartum depression

Postpartum depression is a serious condition and can be debilitating to the mother. Women often feel as though they're never going to get better or feel happy again. But it's a condition that can be treated effectively. Treatment includes counseling, antidepressants or both. Talk with your doctor about the treatment that will work best for you. If you're breast-feeding, some medications shouldn't be used, but there are others that are safe. Signs of postpartum depression are:

• Feeling overwhelmed, hopeless and helpless
• Deep sadness, crying a lot
• Restless, irritable
• Nervous or jumpy
• Unable to eat/weight loss
• No interest in your baby
• Sleeping too much
• Unable to do daily tasks
• Overly worried about your baby
• No interest in activities
• Unable to sleep
• Lack of energy
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Withdrawing from family or friends
• Thoughts of death, suicide, or harming the baby or yourself

Risk factors for postpartum depression

• Outside influences: giving birth to multiples; infant medical problems or complications; family, life or social stress
• Biological factors: pre-existing psychiatric or medical conditions such as history of depression, history of severe premenstrual syndrome, postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy, hormonal shifts or low thyroid levels

Other ways to cope

Getting medical treatment for postpartum depression is critical, but there are also other ways to cope.

• Join a support group to talk to other women in a similar condition
• Get sleep when you can
• Express your feelings. Talk to your partner, family or friends
• Get out and about. Connect with other people and do activities you enjoy
• Tell your doctor how you're feeling. Your doctor can't provide treatment unless he or she knows your symptoms