How Long Do the Baby Blues Last?
The Myth of Magic
According to every baby product commercial ever, having a baby is an amazing and magical time. It’s a moment that is filled with happiness and love. What these ads often miss are the other feelings. It isn’t unusual to feel less than happy. In fact, 70% of women feel sadness or mood swings after the birth of a baby.
If you look back on the past nine months, it makes sense. Any TV sitcom with a pregnant lady will exaggerate the intensity of the mood swings and hormone rush that is a part of pregnancy. Every pregnant woman has their “melt-down” story. It could be over something as simple as burnt dinner or something as huge as their mother-in-law demanding to be in the room for the delivery. Once the baby has made his or her grand entrance into the world, those hormones surge again. Unfortunately, this hormone surge isn’t depicted on TV, so it’s less talked about.
Whether you delivered vaginally or had a C-section, you’ve just put your body through the most excruciating process! It is no picnic getting that baby out of your body! You’re exhausted and longing for a nap, but then they hand you your little peanut and from that moment on you have to take care of her. This tiny human went from being that cute kicker inside you to a tiny CEO, demanding you at all hours of the day and night. This new “Mombie” version of you is strained with lack of sleep, lack of showers, and new stress with your partner.
Many moms quickly realize that this isn’t what they thought it would be. You find that you’re feeling sad and crying frequently. The feelings can be intensified if you had a particularly difficult labor or feel disappointed about any changes or struggles during labor.
These early feelings of sadness and depression are often referred to as the “baby blues”.
How do I know if I have the “Baby Blues”?
Baby blues may show up within the first few days after delivery. Common symptoms include
Sadness, tearfulness
Anxiety
Difficulty sleeping (even when the baby is sleeping)
Restlessness
Mood swings
Difficulty concentrating
Impatience/irritability
Feelings of guilt
If you’re feeling “all the feels” then it’s likely you have Baby Blues. The Baby Blues usually hit within the first four or five days after having the baby and last between ten and fourteen days. If your baby was born during the winter, you’re more likely to feel the Baby Blues longer. If your baby is more than 2 weeks old and you’re still struggling, check out my other blog posts on postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety.
What causes the Baby Blues?
There is no known cause for the Baby Blues, but it can be triggered by any of the big changes going on:
Hormone changes
Not sleeping
Physical strain from pregnancy & delivery
Milk coming
Stress on your marriage
Financial worries
How do I feel better?
Like many other events, it is helpful to be surrounded by support. Having friends and family help and share their love for you can help.
Take some time for yourself. Maybe you need to take that shower, that nap, or maybe just a walk in the outside air. Hand the baby off to someone you trust and take that ten minutes a day to yourself. Self-care can recharge your batteries and help you cope with your new life better.
Mom support groups can also be a source of comfort and peace.
How do I help my loved one deal with the Baby Blues?
It can be hard to watch your loved one struggle with these feelings. You could ask what they need, take the baby for awhile so she can sleep, do the laundry/dishes, or just sit and listen to her. Being available to mom is what she needs the most. Please recognize that this is not a reflection of their ability to mother the child, it is a common occurrence which will get better.
How do I know if it’s postpartum depression?
Baby Blues can often be confused for postpartum depression and vice versa. They share a lot of symptoms. The key with Baby Blues is that it gets better over time. It becomes easier to cope, and the feelings lessen. If your feelings increase, stay just as strong, or if you have feelings of harming yourself or your baby, get help right away.
Call me and I can help you and I would love to get through this new transition so you can start enjoying the time with your baby.
