Topic —  About Mom, Ages & Stages — Babies,

Postpartum Depression vs Postpartum Blues

November 07, 2011
Ann Douglas

How can I tell if I’m experiencing Postpartum Depression?

There are a number of ways to differentiate between Postpartum Blues, (mild feelings of depression and anxiety that typically appear within the first one-to-two weeks of giving birth) and Postpartum Depression (more severe and persistent feelings of depression and anxiety that typically show up anytime from a few weeks to two years after the birth of a baby).

(Note: Postpartum Blues used to be called “Baby Blues”, but health care providers are increasingly using the term “ Postpartum Blues” to steer clear of any implication that baby is to blame for how mom is feeling.)

Here is where to start:

• Look at the timing of the onset of the symptoms. With Postpartum Blues (experienced by up to 85% of new moms), symptoms occur within one to two weeks following the birth of a baby. With Postpartum Depression (experienced by 10 to 15% of new moms), symptoms can occur anytime between a few months to up to two years following the birth.
• Consider the severity of the symptoms. With Postpartum Blues, symptoms of anxiety and depression are mild. With Postpartum Depression, the symptoms are much more severe. These symptoms may include feelings of sadness and emptiness, constant fatigue, trouble sleeping, changes to eating habits (either eating too little or too much), a strong sense of failure or inadequacy, intense concern and worry about the baby or a lack of interest in the baby, thoughts of suicide, or fears of harming the baby. (Note: If a mother experiences a severe depression following the birth of her baby—one in which she experiences hallucinations or thoughts about harming her baby or herself—she is said to be experiencing Postpartum Psychosis. Fortunately, Postpartum Psychosis is quite rare, affecting just one to two out of each 1000 women who have given birth recently.
• Be prepared for the need for treatment. The Postpartum Blues will resolve itself on its own within a couple of days. Take the best possible care of yourself in the meantime by getting as much rest as you can, asking for help from family and friends, and making an effort to get out for a walk each day. Postpartum Depression requires medical evaluation and treatment (typically medication and/or group or individual therapy). Other treatments such as bright light therapy may also be recommended.

It is important to seek treatment, because if left untreated, Postpartum Depression can lead to difficulties in bonding or caring for your baby. That, in turn, can lead to delays in your baby’s development. It can also put major stress on your relationship with your partner. The sooner you recognize the symptoms of Postpartum Depression in yourself and reach out for help, the sooner things can start to get better.

Comments

1. Posted by Heather on November 09, 2011 at 01:37 AM

   As a woman who experienced PPD, it’s so important to know that it’s not your fault! PPD can happen to any mom with, or without a history of depression and/or anxiety. The most important thing is you are not alone and you will get through it.

2. Posted by robyn on November 09, 2011 at 09:25 AM

   Thank you so much for sharing your experience.

3. Posted by Melinda Plummer on December 05, 2011 at 01:52 AM

   For a lot of women it’s somewhat difficult to know if what’s being experienced is postpartum depression because everyone’s experience is different. For one person it may be dramatic symptoms and very noticeable changes, whereas for another person (as it was for me) it may be gradual changes in mood and other things. Also, with depression many people very often attribute their fatigue and loss of interest to bouts of laziness and have a hard time admitting and coming to terms with the fact that it is depression because there’s still a stigma attached to depression and no one wants to appear to be weak.

Post a Comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this blog until the author has approved them.

name email location notify me of follow-up comments?	submit the word you see below

Our Commenting Policy

Manners are important to moms. So it won’t surprise you that at SavvyMom Media we try our best to keep the discussion respectful. While we hope you will share your thoughts in the comments, we ask that you keep it clean. Please avoid all profanity, derogatory terms, advertising/spam, and unsubstantiated personal attacks. If you see a comment that you feel is abusive, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

We promise not to delete your comments unless they violate these terms, though we sincerely hope we won’t have to make that decision. For more detail on our commenting policy and procedures, please see our complete Community Guidelines