5 Signs That’s It’s More Than the Baby Blues

Having a new baby is one of the most beautiful events a woman can experience. You may have looked forward to it with great anticipation and joy. Yet, most women feel overwhelmed, stressed, exhausted, and anxious after giving birth.

A sudden drop in hormones after delivery, combined with isolation, sleep deprivation and stress can cause these feelings. But when these feelings, and others, continue beyond two weeks after birth, it can indicate that there is more going on.

How do you know if it’s more than the Baby Blues?

Crying jags, tearfulness, mood swings and irritability can all be a part of both Baby Blues and Post Partum. With Post Partum Depression the symptoms can be more severe and persistent.

5 signs that it’s more than the Baby Blues:

1. You might have overwhelming feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or thoughts about wishing you were not alive.

2. You might have out-of-control anxiety, problems sleeping (even when your baby is asleep), and loss of appetite.

3. You might have extreme worries and fears about the health and safety of the baby, and your ability to take care of her.

4. You might feel hopeless or have a lot of trouble concentrating.

5. You might have trouble bonding with your baby or find yourself withdrawing from loved ones.

Things to do to help yourself:

1. Tell others how you are feeling, even if you feel the desire to isolate from others. Contact a best friend, new mom’s support group or spend time with your partner without the baby. Engage your network of family and friends to watch the baby for even an hour so that you and your partner can connect.

2. Go for a walk. Get out into the sunshine and move for 15 minutes. If you are physically able to, use a meditation video or a post partum yoga video to reconnect to your body in a healthy way.

3. Make sure you are prioritizing you and the baby rather than doing housework. It’s okay if the laundry isn’t folded or there are some dishes in the sink.

4. Contact a therapist. Therapy can provide a supportive environment for Post Partum recovery. Feeling “heard”, less isolated and understood can help provide a safe place to learn how to cope with this profound change in your life. You can learn skills which support your feeling more “yourself” again, reducing anxiety, and increasing feelings of well-being, so that you and your baby thrive.

Dr. Nancy Millian