When are baby blues more than just the blues
Birth of a new child is an exciting time for new mothers. You feel
elated to finally meet your newborn, proud of yourself for undergoing this
amazing life event, and happy for your family. But you may also experience
feelings of being overwhelmed with the new responsibility or sad about the loss
of freedom a newborn brings.
After birth of your baby, or even before, your body and body
chemistry undergoes many changes. Hormonal changes can cause imbalances that
lead to symptoms of depression including conditions we know as baby blues,
prenatal depression, and postpartum depression. Prenatal depression isn’t
discussed as much, but can have similar effects on mood and anxiety levels. To
find out more about prenatal depression read my prior blog post here.
But when are those lows, anxiety bouts, and baby blues more than
temporary mood swings? How do you know that the symptoms may be a bigger
problem that may not go away on its own? The condition we know as baby blues,
including feelings of sadness and being overwhelmed, occurs in as many as 80%
of new mothers. Hormone levels drop after birth and you may not get enough
sleep, leaving you irritable and moody.
Baby blues can occur when your newborn is two to three days old
and last one to two weeks. But if your feelings of sadness persist or become severe
you may have postpartum depression. About 10% of women will experience
postpartum depression. Women who have history of depression themselves or in
their family have a higher likelihood of experiencing postpartum depression.
If you’re feeling sad and overwhelmed, and/or lethargic, even
apathetic for longer than two weeks it’s a good idea to see your doctor. Your
doctor should ask you about your feelings, their duration, as well as give you
a questionnaire that is a depression screening. In addition, they may order
blood test to check for thyroid hormone levels and other causes of your symptoms.
Treatment for postpartum depression varies depending on severity
and cause. If an under-active thyroid is the issue, your doctor may refer you to
a specialist. Postpartum depression is most often treated with psychotherapy
and/or medication. Psychotherapy involves talking to a mental health
professional to get support around your feelings, helping you cope with them,
solve problems, and give you mechanisms to respond in positive ways. In addition
mental health professionals can help you talk to your family about your
depression and guide them in supporting you.
Antidepressants may be recommended. Most antidepressants can be
used during breast-feeding with little risk of side effects for your baby. It
is best to evaluate options with your doctor and mental health professional to
come to the best solution for you and your family. Even after you feel better
it can be important to continue treatment, as stopping treatment too early can
lead to relapse.
Seeing a healthcare professional about your feelings and getting the
help and support you need is the most important step you can take if you are
experiencing overwhelming and prolonged feelings of sadness, loneliness, being
overwhelmed, or feeling apathetic, lethargic, or anxious. Your medical doctor or
a mental health professional can help guide you in getting the right treatment.
If you have any of these symptoms or feelings, tell someone. Often when you are
in the middle of such feelings, you may not have the energy or drive to change
them. Talking to someone who can help you get the care you need is an important
step for your health, that of your baby, and family.
If you are experiencing thoughts of hurting yourself call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or connect online here.
Treating women during this vulnerable time is our specialty at River Root Counseling. If you’d like to schedule a free consultation fill out this contact form.
Yours in health,
Danielle Older
MSW, LISW-S, CCTP
River Root Counseling, LLC