Battling the "Baby Blues"

You’re the proud mother of a new baby. You have looked forward to this happy event for months. So, why are you crying?

You could have the “baby blues”. For the first week or two after giving birth, as many as eight out of 10 new moms get the baby blues. They may feel sad or anxious, burst into tears for no apparent reason or experience rapid mood swings. No wonder. Having a baby can be stressful, your hormone levels have just plunged and you may be sleep-deprived.

When it’s more than just the blues

What if the blues last for more than a couple of weeks? Or if they begin weeks – or even months after you give birth? You could be suffering from a more serious – but fairly common – condition called postpartum depression (PPD). At least one out of 10 new mothers suffers from this treatable mood disorder. PPD can linger, or even worsen, if you don’t get help.

If you have some of the following symptoms at ANY TIME after the birth of your child, and they’re interfering with your day-to-day activities, you could have PPD.

• Sadness or depression
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Insomnia
• Eating less or more than usual
• Too much or too little concern for your baby
• Loss of interest in hobbies

• Hallucinations
• The feeling that someone is trying to hurt you or your baby
• Believing that your newborn is evil
• Severe sleep disturbances
• Extreme mood and behavior swings, from marked agitation to almost complete inactivity

• Ask for help with housework and feedings
• Spend sometime alone with your partner
• Get enough sleep. If possible, nap when your baby naps.
• Talk to your partner, family, friends or a counselor/mental health professional about your feelings
• Attend a postpartum support group