Is it the “baby blues” or something more?

Written By Nickie Haine

Many women have a variety of mood symptoms in the aftermath of delivery. 50-85% of women feel Postpartum Blues or “Baby Blues” for a short time, usually 1-3 weeks after delivery. Common symptoms of “Baby Blues” can be mood instability, depressed mood, weepiness, sadness, irritability, anxiety, lack of concentration and feelings of dependency. However, while mild mood changes and the “baby blues” are very common after birth, 15%-20% of women have mood symptoms that can become severe enough and last beyond the initial few weeks, requiring additional support and treatment by a health provider.

The good news is that you don’t have to suffer, there is nothing wrong with you and with the right care and support you will be well.

While Postpartum Depression is the term most used there are actually many forms of perinatal mood disorders that women experience over the course of pregnancy, birth and new motherhood.

Consider the symptoms below, as any of these may indicate that you are struggling with a form of perinatal mood disorder, including postpartum anxiety or depression. Perinatal mood disorders are related to mood and anxiety symptoms that occur during pregnancy or up to one year postpartum and often longer when treatment is delayed.

  • Do you feel sad and depressed?

  • Are you more irritable or angry with those around you?

  • Do you feel distant or that you are having difficulty bonding with your baby?

  • Do you feel anxious, panicky, or worried all the time?

  • Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?

  • Are you having upsetting and intrusive thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind?

  • Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy”?

  • Do you feel like you never should have become a mother or that you are not good enough in this role?

  • Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

Postpartum Depression (PPD) is more intense and has a longer duration of symptoms and occurs in 1 in 8 women. PPD typically develops over the first 2-3 months after childbirth but may occur at any point after delivery and can last well beyond a year especially if there is a delay in treatment and support.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression

  • Feeling sad, depressed, and/or crying a lot

  • Irritability

  • Intense anxiety

  • Having intrusive scary thoughts, rumination, obsessions (See Postpartum Anxiety Disorders below)

  • Loss of interest in usual activities

  • Feeling numb, lack of feelings for the baby, not looking forward to the future

  • Feeling alone

  • Feeling ashamed

  • Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or incompetence (this has a lot to do with a woman feeling that her symptoms are evidence of her worth as a mother)

  • Fatigue, irritability, sleep disturbance

  • Change in appetite

  • Poor concentration

  • Excessive worry about baby’s health

  • Suicidal thoughts

Pregnancy Loss

Experiencing miscarriage at any point in pregnancy can be a shocking and devastating event. Many women struggle with physical and emotional pain and grief that is powerful and overwhelming. Miscarriage can leave women feeling numb, helpless and isolated from others. Common reactions to miscarriage are sadness, anger, guilt and depression.

Infertility

Infertility occurs in 10-15% of couples of reproductive age. Struggling to have a child can be traumatic and a complicated grief process. There are no road maps and people often don’t talk about it so individuals and couples are often left feeling that something is fundamentally wrong with them and very alone. Moving through this grief and loss can bring on a “life crisis” that can tax existing problem-solving resources as a couple and as an individual causing intense sadness, depression, anxiety, grief and trauma.

Postpartum Anxiety Disorders

Postpartum anxiety disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder appear to be as common as postpartum depression and even coincide with depression.

Symptoms of Perinatal Anxiety

  • Panic attacks

  • Hyperventilation

  • Excessive worry

  • Restless sleep

  • Repeated thoughts or images of frightening things happening to the baby

Postpartum Psychosis

Another form of Postpartum Depression is Postpartum Psychosis. Postpartum Psychosis is a serious illness that can be severe and life-threatening and requires immediate evaluation and treatment. This is much more rare, occurring in 1 in 1000 new mothers compared to PPD which can occur in 1 in 8 new mothers.

Postpartum psychosis symptoms include delusions (thoughts that are not based in reality), hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that aren’t there) or disorganized thinking. Often mothers who develop postpartum psychosis are having a severe episode of a mood disorder, usually bipolar (manic-depression) disorder with psychotic features and it is critical for women to get evaluation and treatment immediately.

Postpartum Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PPTSD)

PPTSD is often caused by a traumatic or frightening childbirth or past trauma, and symptoms may include flashbacks of the trauma with feelings of anxiety and the need to avoid things related to that event.

Having a child can be the most amazing and the most difficult experience of your life. If you experience any of these symptoms or if your partner or a loved one is showing symptoms of anxiety, depression or trauma, treatment is highly effective for all Perinatal Mood disorders.

Reach out to speak with us about how we can help or explore Postpartum Support International https://www.postpartum.net/ for a list of therapists, groups and resources across the country.

You are not alone, you are not to blame and with help you will get well!

Nickie Haine
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