What is the difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression?
Baby blues today are seen to exist between 50 percent to 75% of the women after
their delivery. It's quite difficult to distinguish between the natural overwhelming
response to the birth of a child leading to the happiness of the mother and the
actual baby blues depression. If you suffer from this condition, then you might
witness yourself in a continuous state of crying, having anger issues, and anxiety for
no clear reason at all. These waves of sadness hit you hard to the core.
Baby blues generally starts after starting one to four days of your delivery. Generally,
this situation gets settled and resolved on its own in 90% of the cases. You rarely
need clinical treatment and professional help for the same. The only time you need
to worry is when this bombardment of sour emotions doesn't leave you from 2 weeks of
delivery. Once you get proper care and love from your partner, others reassurance
that you will be fine, your mental state starts getting better with each upcoming day.
The below article is going to provide you with a clear knowledge and understanding
of the difference that exists between the “baby blues” and postpartum depression.
What is the difference between “baby blues” and postpartum depression? “baby blues” and postpartum depression are often confused with each other,it seems
to be the same yet holds a different meaning! Research says that almost 80% of
women are at risk of getting baby blues and it is completely natural as well as normal.
You get a new motherly feeling, baby blues is a result of that. Sudden sadness,
anxiety, stress, crying, emotional turmoil, etc are basic symptoms of it. It happens
when your baby is 2 or 3 days old.
Although, the situation gets better when your baby gets 2 to 3 weeks old. But, if
afterward you still have an overwhelming feeling of depressive episodes, sleeping
disorders, disruptive eating habits, then it's surely something serious to be taken
care of. It further leads to postpartum depression that happens after the child's
delivery. Getting assessed by the doctor on this topic will be extremely helpful for
you to avoid face timing and calamity further in the future. It's a depressing topic,
don't take it lightly.
According to the researchers, 10 to 20% of mothers are at risk of getting postpartum
depression. It might take somewhere from 1 month to 6 months for the situation to
get better completely from the roots. Also, if the mother has had somebody in her
family who had postpartum depression or even other kinds of depression, then she
is more likely to get the one for herself.
What are the symptoms of baby blues?
You can understand the symptoms of baby blues in depth from the below section -
- You have the bombardment of the overwhelming feelings.
- You feel anxious, stressful and worried.
- You get easily offended and irritated.
- You feel suddenly happy that you are up to your job as a mother and suddensad because you think that you are not a good mother.
- You lose interest in daily activities and about eating on time.
What are the symptoms of Postpartum Depression?
You can understand the symptoms of postpartum depression from the below section
- You find it difficult to have a good bond with your baby
- You get panic attacks more often
- Everything around you makes you feel sad, hopeless, and worthless
- You feel like a bad mother
- You feel like harming yourself and your baby
- You feel mental, emotionally, physically drained
What is the best way to treat baby blues?
Adapting to the following ways, you are going to feel better and will be able to cope
up with the baby blues in a matter of a few days.
- Try working on your hobbies
- Go outside, walk barefoot on grass and let the fresh air or sunshine flows to you.
- Do breathing exercises and meditation
- Sleep in time, eat in time and play plus take care of your baby
- Watch good movies especially talking about the motherhood
What is the best way to treat postpartum depression?
To treat postpartum depression, you can change your daily habits and accept the
alternatives mentioned below -
- Go for a professional checkup
- Spent some time in the open air and try to be grateful for the small blessings in your life
- Speak clearly to your family about how you are feeling & what all you are going through all solitary
- Take the recommended medications from the doctor on time.
- Go for counseling sessions
- Love yourself more, because you matter!
- Don't be too harsh on yourself, take proper care of your eating schedules
- Make sure to keep a track of thoughts you are letting enter your minds
- Schedule the appointment and go for psychotherapy. It's a type of talk therapy
- where the doctors let you speak your heart out. Just speak honestly about your feelings and the things you are alone going through.
Above all the alternatives presented above, researchers recommend going for
psychotherapy initially in cases where depression symptoms are mild and are
anticipated to get better with time. Antidepressant medication should be given only
in the major cases where the mother isn't able to control her emotions and is on the
verge of self-destruction activities.
Key Takeaways
Postpartum depression and baby blues aren't the same at all. These two are two
different situations. Baby blues further lead to postpartum depression. Baby blues
are emotional upheaval and disbalance. Here, you feel extreme highs and lows of
emotions whereas when the phases of baby blues don't end after 2 weeks, then it's
something serious and we call it postpartum depression. It immediately needs
professional help whereas baby blues don't need any clinical assistance.
It generally goes by itself when properly taken care of by your family members.
Educating yourself about these two depression types is quintessential for a better
life and to avoid any mishappening or deterioration of the situation further.
References
https://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/understanding-