Welcoming the birth of a baby is, of course, a happy moment. However, the sudden changes when you have a baby can stress you out, Ladies. For many moms, bringing home a new baby means stress, fatigue, pain, and dealing with postpartum hormonal changes.
Four out of five moms experience postpartum baby blues, the brief period after giving birth filled with sadness, anxiety, stress, and mood swings. Baby blues usually strike within a few days of giving birth, but if the labor is particularly difficult, they can occur sooner.
What causes baby blues?
Although doctors have not been able to determine what exactly causes it, it is thought that the baby blues occur due to extreme hormonal fluctuations that occur, which are associated with the shrinking of the uterus back to its normal size and increased lactation. These hormonal changes can also affect the mother's state of mind after giving birth. In the postpartum period, it's common for parents to find it difficult to rest due to going through all the major changes in daily routine and lifestyle that come with a newborn baby.
What are the symptoms of baby blues?
Symptoms of baby blues usually start 2 to 3 days after the baby is born. In most cases, baby blues go away on their own, usually within 10-14 days postpartum. Generally, the symptoms of baby blues include:
- Feeling weeping or crying over minor triggers
- Experiencing mood swings or being very irritable
- Feeling unattached from the baby
- Missing parts of the old life, for example, the freedom to go out with friends
- Worry or feel anxious about the health and safety of your baby
- Feeling restless or having insomnia despite feeling exhausted
- Has trouble thinking clearly or making easy decisions
What can be done to overcome the baby blues?
No specific method is needed to deal with baby blues, as most people will adjust to new roles and routines with their baby over time. Finding things that will make you feel better during this transition can help you get back to "normal" or at least find the "new normal" a little more quickly.
Here are some things you can do to help overcome the baby blues:
1. Get as much sleep as possible
Try sleeping when the baby sleeps because things worsen when you're exhausted. Sometimes, sleep is the best medicine.
2. Ask for help
Let others help you with your tasks, and don't try to do everything yourself.
3. Consume nutritious food and take a walk outside
Eating nutritious food and breathing fresh air when walking out will help you stay healthy and more relaxed.
4. Talk to someone
If you can consult a psychologist, that's certainly better, but if not, chatting with a family member or close friend who won't be judgmental will help you relieve your feelings.
5. Do something you love
Try doing the things that you loved about your life before having a baby, even if it was only for 20 minutes at a time.
6. Strengthen the bond with your partner
Committing to doing something with your partner once a day can go a long way in helping both feel connected and supported.
How are baby blues different from postpartum depression?
Some people don't just have a case of the "baby blues" after giving birth. In some cases, some mothers experience postpartum depression, a more serious condition requiring medical treatment. There are two main indicators that the sadness felt after childbirth is postpartum depression, namely:
1. Timeline
If you're still feeling sad, anxious, or overwhelmed after two weeks postpartum, your chances of having postpartum depression increase because baby blues usually last up to 2 weeks.
Baby blues also occur quickly after giving birth, so if depressive symptoms don't appear a few weeks or months after birth, they're not baby blues. Postpartum depression itself can occur at any time during the first year after giving birth.
2. Severity of symptoms
Although a bit subjective, baby blues will make you sad, but they don't affect your quality of life. On the other hand, postpartum depression isn't something that comes and goes easily throughout the day, so the symptoms are more persistent and won't go away on their own.
Hopefully, this article will help new parents who are adjusting to life with their children. Don't forget, keep reading other health articles from Fitie!
Source:
Bradley, S., & Wilson, D., R. (2020). What Are the Baby Blues and How Long Do They Last? Healthline. [online]. https://www.healthline.com/health/baby-blues