Overcome Baby Blues & Postpartum Depression

Baby Blues
Being a new parent can be exciting and wonderful. Every day brings a new experience as you watch your baby grow. As your baby changes, so does your body as it heals from
giving birth. This takes time. As you heal, you may notice some feelings of sadness. Your hormone levels go up and down, and this can cause you to feel emotional. This is
common. It is called the baby blues.

Get as much rest as you can. Try to sleep when your baby sleeps.
Ask your provider about support groups for new mothers.
Talking with other new mothers can really help.
Don’t be afraid to ask family members or friends for help when you need it.

Postpartum Depression
Many new mothers experience the baby blues for the first 2 or 3 weeks after giving birth. When the symptoms do not go away, however, this can be a sign of postpartum depression, which is a medical illness. If you have any of these signs, call your health care provider:
You cry often
You feel anxious or find yourself worrying a lot
You have problems sleeping
You are either not hungry or eat too much
You have trouble focusing
You are worried you might hurt your baby or yourself
You have no interest or find little enjoyment in your usual activities