Is it Just the Baby Blues?

Do you remember the days when all anyone could talk about was how blissful and wonderful motherhood is? Somehow, it seems that the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction, and now all we see are the horrors of motherhood and parenting on our social media feeds. While some believe this is offering a more authentic view of motherhood, for some, it’s making it harder to get a sense of what is normal.  

Friends, mommy bloggers, and even celebrities, including Kylie Jenner, are opening about their postpartum experiences. On one hand, access to this information is helping raise awareness about the struggles of expectant and postpartum moms. On the other, it might leave you questioning “is it just the baby blues” or something more?

Let’s talk about it then-- If you have been asking yourself this, there are a few things you should consider first.

What are “the baby blues”?

You have likely heard of the baby blues and that is probably because between 40 and 80 percent of birthing people experience postpartum blues. With this many individuals experiencing postpartum sadness, you might deduce that this is a fairly common experience. Some common signs of baby blues include rapidly changing moods, irritability, anxiety, tearfulness, and insomnia. Generally, the onset of these symptoms starts within a few days of delivering a baby. Although the symptoms can have a rapid onset, they are usually somewhat mild and resolve within the first few weeks of a person being postpartum. The etiology of baby blues is not fully understood, but most suggest that it is due to the dramatic hormonal changes that occur. On top of that, you have to remember that parenthood is a major life transition-- sleepless nights, concerns over feeding and baby safety, and navigating new roles have an influence on our psychological well-being. Recently, there have even been conversations about “daddy baby blues” and how this postpartum sadness is not unique to the birthing person. So, lots of parents experience the baby blues but is that what is happening for you?

Some things to be mindful of:

-       How many days/weeks postpartum am I? If you are within the first couple of weeks of postpartum, you may experience the baby blues.

-       How intense are my symptoms? If you are taking care of yourself (eating, bathing, sleeping at least four hour stretches) but it is exhausting and hard to do, you could be experiencing baby blues.

-       How often are the symptoms? Remembering the mood swings are a part of baby blues, consider how often you are sad or tearful. If there are still moments of pride and hope, you might just have the baby blues.

If you have read through these and think you might have the baby blues, here are some things that might be helpful for you:

• Talk with a pediatrician, OB or mental health provider about the symptoms you are experiencing

• Prioritize eating nutritious meals and sleeping in at least four hour stretches at night.

• Talk with trusted individuals about how they can help and support you during this time

• Get some fresh air, call a friend, snuggle your baby

If you have gotten to this point and you are asking yourself, “what if it’s something more?” then we need to talk about postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.

What are postpartum mood and anxiety disorders?

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, or PMADs are distressing thoughts, feelings and experiences that occur during pregnancy and within the first year postpartum. One of the hardest things about distinguishing between baby blues and PMADs is that the signs and symptoms can look and feel very similar. One of the biggest differences to look out for though is how long the symptoms last. If you are experiencing the aforementioned symptoms longer than two to three weeks postpartum, or they are impacting your functioning, you might have a PMAD.

Types of PMADs and symptoms

Depression: Postpartum depression is like major depressive disorder and includes irritability, sadness, hopelessness, and can include difficulties bonding with baby. While many moms experience baby blues, about 12-15 percent will experience perinatal/postpartum depression.

Anxiety: Similar to Generalized Anxiety Disorder, postpartum anxiety can cause persistent worry. Often, worry thoughts will be related to concerns about pregnancy or the baby’s well-being. These thoughts can feel intrusive and scary and can lead to physiological symptoms such as heart palpitations, nausea, and dizziness.

OCD: Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder requires special attention and assessment as it is frequently misdiagnosed. Someone experiencing postpartum OCD will experience obsessive intrusive thoughts, usually about their baby, and then engage in some sort of ritualistic or compulsive behavior. (Example: You have intrusive worries about your baby becoming sick and to help with the anxiety this elicits, you wash and rewash their bottles and other items, even when they are clean).

Psychosis: Although postpartum psychosis is rare, it is an extremely serious form of a mood disorder that needs immediate professional attention and treatment. Some symptoms might include elevated mood, inability or not needing to sleep, and hearing or seeing things that other cannot.

Effects of PMADs and Getting Help:

PMADs can have a significant effect not only the person experiencing them, but also on their partner, children and loved ones. PMADs can affect the relationship between parent and child and have lasting impacts on the child’s capacity for stress and emotion regulation as well as other areas of development. The good news is that PMADs are treatable, and support is available. Seeking treatment for a PMAD is an important step, and if you are considering that for yourself, please reach out via my contact form to understand if therapy might be right for you.