Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?: How to tell the difference and cope with the feelings
Being a new mom is challenging. The challenges often begin while trying to conceive, continue as you navigate pregnancy and remain throughout labor and then when you take your newborn home. Women face extreme physical and hormonal changes, and that is just the start after birth. While these huge changes are occuring internally, women are also navigating the emotional changes of forging a new identity as a mom all while navigating the social pressures and expectations of what motherhood should like look. Statistics show that over half of new mother’s struggle with the “baby blues,” but how do you know when the baby blues (which generally remits on its own) turn into postpartum depression/anxiety?
8 Signs of Postpartum Depression/Anxiety
1. Length of time
The baby blues lasts around two weeks, and generally subside without medication or other interventions. If you are past the two-week mark and you continue to feel depressed and anxious, you may be suffering from postpartum depression.
2. Excessive Anxiety or Panic Attacks
Mothers often feel that they can completely protect their children in utero, and once their child enters the world, they feel that they have lost some of that safety and control. When that leads to relentless worry and anxiety about every aspect of your child, and it begins to impact your relationship with your child that is when it may be more than the baby blues.
3. Sadness, guilt and hopelessness
The transition into motherhood can bring up conflicting emotions. The joy and excitement you feel can often be coupled with sadness, guilt and hopelessness. Many women experience feelings akin to a grieving process. And in this transition to motherhood there is a lot of loss - loss of sleep, loss of who you were before, and the list goes on. When these feelings of sadness, guilt and hopelessness overwhelm you and make you unable to feel the balance of joy and excitement you may be experiencing postpartum depression.
4. Sleeping too much or too little
This can be hard to assess since it is hard to get adequate sleep with a newborn. However, if you find yourself unable to sleep for multiple nights in a row or unable to wake up with your child and feed or soothe them that may indicate that your sleeplessness is not related to the baby and rather is related to your mood and wellbeing.
5. Changes in appetite
If you find it hard to eat or find yourself overeating in an unmanageable way past two weeks postpartum that may indicate that you are managing your emotions with food, and this may be tied to postpartum depression.
6. Anger and irritability
Depression is often seen as sadness, but for some, it may present as anger and irritability. If you find that you are constantly angry at yourself or your baby and are feeling concerned that this anger is making you treat yourself and your baby differently than it might be postpartum depression.
7. Disinterest in your baby
This can be a hard thing to admit to anyone, even yourself. But if you find that you are not interested in connecting with your baby, you may be suffering from depression. Your lack of interest may interfere with your ability to feed the baby or calm and soothe them during those long nights. These feelings are not representative of your true self, but rather stem from depression.
8. Intrusive thoughts that you might hurt your baby or yourself
Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby can often feel scary. These thoughts are something to take seriously and seek immediate help and support for so that you can keep your baby and yourself safe.
Coping Strategies
1. Ask for help
Asking for help can be difficult. Many new moms feel like they have to do everything for their baby in order to be the best mom. But asking for help, can help both you and your baby.
2. Tap into your village for support
Caring for a newborn can feel lonely, not only do you need to remember to ask for help you need to remember to connect with your village. Whether it is family or friends, or a new mom group connecting with your village for physical and emotional support can make all the difference in maintaining your mental health.
3. Remember that me time is also good for baby
Self-care is not selfish. Remember that those moments you take for yourself to recharge and reconnect actually help you connect with your baby. The better you feel the more you can be present with your baby.
4. Talk to someone (or multiple people)
Talking to a therapist or a psychiatrist can help you manage those challenging feelings. Having a space that is just for you to speak to an unbiased individual can really allow you to understand and manage your feelings.
Remember to Listen to your instinct, if something feels wrong, it likely is wrong. You can get help from your medical doctor as well as help from a therapist. To learn more about postpartum depression/anxiety and other postpartum disorders, book an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Rebecca Branda, Psy.D. today.