It's stressful to have a child, no matter how much you've been looking forward to it or how much you love your child. It's no wonder that a lot of new moms feel like they're on an emotional rollercoaster, considering the sleep deprivation, new tasks, and lack of time for themselves.
Possibly, in new mothers, moderate depression and mood swings are so widespread that they have their own name: the baby blues.
The majority of women shortly after childbirth experience at least some signs of baby blues. The rapid shift in hormones after delivery, combined with stress, loneliness, lack of sleep, and exhaustion, causes it. Maybe you feel more tearful, overwhelmed, and vulnerable emotionally. This will usually begin within the first few days after delivery, peak about a week, and taper off by the end of the second postpartum week.
Baby blues are perfectly common, but you may suffer from postpartum depression if the symptoms do not go away after a few weeks or get worse.
Post partum depression signs and symptoms
Postpartum depression, unlike baby blues, is a more severe issue, one that you should not ignore.
Postpartum depression can look like the typical baby blues in the beginning. In reality, many symptoms, including mood swings, crying jags, sadness, insomnia, and irritability, are shared by postpartum depression and baby blues. The distinction is that the symptoms are more severe (such as suicidal thoughts or an inability to care for your newborn) and longer lasting with postpartum depression.
You can find yourself withdrawing from your partner or your baby being unable to bond well.
You might find your anxiety out of control, keeping you from sleeping or eating properly, even when your baby is asleep.
You may find intense feelings of remorse or worthlessness or start to develop thoughts concerned with death or even wish you weren't alive.
These are all red postpartum depression flags.
Risk factors
There is no single explanation why postpartum depression occurs in some new mothers and others do not, but it is suspected that a variety of interrelated causes and risk factors contribute to the issue.
Hormonal modifications. Women experience a major decrease in the levels of estrogen and progesterone hormones after childbirth. There may also be a decrease in thyroid levels, contributing to fatigue and depression. These rapid hormonal changes can cause postpartum depression, along with the changes in blood pressure, functioning of the immune system, and metabolism experienced by new mothers.
Physical Modifications. Giving birth brings various changes in physique and emotion. You can experience physical pain from childbirth or the difficulties of losing baby weight, leaving you uncertain of your physical and sexual appeal.
Stress. A toll may also be taken by the burden of caring for a newborn. New mothers also suffer from sleep deprivation. Furthermore, you could feel exhausted and nervous about your ability to care for your baby properly. If you're a first-time mother who must get used to an entirely new persona, these changes can be especially difficult.
Wow i never something like this existed not to mention the fact that it has a name. Thank you for this..... What is baby blues tho?