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Understanding the "baby blues"

woman with baby blues
 

What is the "Baby Blues"?

Between 3 and 10 days after giving birth, new mums may feel miserable, anxious and tearful. These feelings are known as the ‘baby blues’. While new mums may expect to be happy in the period after their baby is born, these feelings are perfectly normal and happen in as many as 8 in every 10 new mums. Most women with the baby blues will start to feel better after a few days.

What are the symptoms of baby blues?

New mums with the baby blues generally feel low, and can be emotional, even bursting into tears for no reason. Baby blues may also make new mums feel irritable, anxious, overwhelmed, or restless. Some women with baby blues may notice that their appetite changes or that they are feeling particularly tired or confused. In most women, these symptoms tend to decrease over the first 2 weeks after giving birth, disappearing at around 10–14 days.

Why do new mothers get the baby blues?

It is not entirely clear what causes the baby blues. It is partly because the levels of hormones, which have been very high during pregnancy, suddenly fall. The mother’s experience of the birth can also have an effect on how she feels in the period immediately afterwards.

What is the difference between baby blues and postnatal depression?

Although the symptoms of feeling low, tearful and anxious can be common to both baby blues and postnatal depression they are milder in baby blues and do not affect the mum’s ability to care for her baby. The baby blues start very soon after birth and quickly get better, whereas PND can happen at any time in the first year after the baby is born and lasts for longer. Baby blues are also far more common than postnatal depression, affecting up to 8 in 10 women compared with around 1 in 10 who will experience postnatal depression. Importantly, having the baby blues does not mean that you will go on to have postnatal depression.

What should I do if I have the baby blues?

If you have the baby blues, it is important to tell the people that you are close to so that you do not feel alone. Support and acceptance of the way you feel by your partner, family, and friends can be very helpful while you deal with the baby blues.

While the baby blues will get better on their own, depression and anxiety are conditions that require specific treatment, both for your own health and so that you are able to look after your baby.

For more information on support available visit the Association of Postnatal Illness opens in a new window

 

Approved by healthcare team

 

 

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