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The difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression:
Postpartum depression, which affects 10 to 15 percent of all new mothers, is different
from a case of the baby blues. Most women who develop postpartum depression experience
symptoms within six weeks of delivery, not within the first two weeks. Postpartum
depression is more severe and lasts longer. Women with postpartum depression feel sad
day after day, often overwhelmed by anxiety. They may have feelings of worthlessness
and lose interest in activities they once found pleasurable. Postpartum depression is
a serious problem when not treated. If you notice these signs, it’s important to
contact your doctor. Support, counseling and medications may be used to treat postpartum
depression.
How to beat the baby blues:
The best advice is to be good to yourself. Getting enough rest is the single most
important thing you can do. You need sleep to heal physically, adjust emotionally,
produce milk and stabilize your mood. Rest whenever the baby does. If possible,
have a friend or family member spend the first week at home with you. They can
take care of the household chores. If you’re not comfortable with that,
don’t be afraid to ask for occasional help with the laundry, shopping or meals.
Don’t forget that Dad is also there to help. Fathers need a chance to learn
to care for the baby, just as women do. Let Dad take over when you need a
break.
Make sure you eat well and drink plenty of fluids. Though you may be preoccupied with
other things, your body needs proper nourishment to heal, and to give you more energy.
Planning ahead by preparing and freezing meals while you are pregnant can make mealtime
much easier.
Turn off the phone when you want to rest. And if you don’t feel up to visitors,
don’t be afraid to tell prospective visitors to wait a few weeks. You and your
baby need some time to adjust to your new routine.
Most importantly, don’t beat yourself up over your blues. Your range of emotions
is a normal adjustment to one of the biggest life changes you will ever experience.
Having a case of the baby blues does not mean you’re a bad mother, or that you
are weak. By realizing that what you are experiencing is a normal part of motherhood,
you will allow your self to recover faster.
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