Baby blues and Postpartum depression
LUCIA AGULLA, MA, RCC, VITALITY COLLECTIVE VANCOUVER THERAPIST & REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR
Pregnancy and childbirth can be joyous times in a person's life, but they can also come with a range of emotional challenges. When these challenges appear, women often suffer in silence due to the lack of social support or feelings of guilt and shame. Two common conditions that women may experience after giving birth are the “baby blues” and postpartum depression. Although these conditions can have similar symptoms, they are distinct and require different approaches to treatment.
The baby blues –or postpartum blues- is a common condition that affects more than 50% of new mothers, it is considered a typical experience and not a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD). This experience can look much like depression, but the symptoms are transient and self-limited. They include low mood and mood swings, anxiety, sadness, and irritability. Women experiencing this may also face difficulty sleeping and changes in appetite. Postpartum blues typically sets in within the first few days after delivery and can last for up to two weeks.
The baby blues are thought to be caused by the rapid hormonal changes that occur during and after childbirth. As the body adjusts to the postpartum period, it can take time for hormone levels to stabilize, and this can contribute to mood changes. Additionally, the stress and exhaustion of caring for a new baby can also contribute to the baby blues.
While the baby blues can be challenging, they typically resolve on their own within a few weeks. Most women do not require treatment beyond support and reassurance from their family, partner, friends, and healthcare providers. Self-care activities such as getting enough rest, eating well, and engaging in mild exercise can also be helpful, even though they might seem difficult to do while taking care of a newborn baby. That is why it is crucial for mothers going through this to have all the support they can get from their families or the community. Having some time during the day to take care of themselves can have a significant impact on their mental health. In fact, all women in the perinatal period would benefit from these supports –baby blues or not.
On the other hand, if a woman presents symptoms consistent with postpartum blues and she is beyond three weeks postpartum, it is not the baby blues. Postpartum depression is a more severe and long-lasting condition that can affect up to 15% of new mothers. It typically sets in within the first few months after delivery, but it can occur up to 24 months after giving birth. Symptoms of postpartum depression may include persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness. Women with postpartum depression may also experience changes in appetite and sleep, as well as a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.
Postpartum depression, like other PMADs, is better understood when using a biopsychosocial approach, since it is thought to be caused by a combination of hormonal changes, genetic factors, and environmental stressors. Women with a history of depression, anxiety, or other mental health challenges may be at higher risk of developing postpartum depression, as well as those women who have experienced the baby blues.
Postpartum depression typically requires treatment beyond supportive care, which may include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both. When it comes to psychotherapy, it is crucial to create an experience that is worth the effort for the client. We know how difficult it is to reach out for help and to make time for oneself when there is a baby involved, so the therapeutic space should honour the effort that the person is making. It should be a space where the mask of being a perfect parent can just come off and where imperfection is accepted.
In addition to postpartum depression, some women may also experience other PMADs such as postpartum anxiety, postpartum OCD, and postpartum psychosis. These conditions can have similar symptoms to postpartum depression but require different treatments. Similarly, they often go undiagnosed because mothers usually keep on functioning well, hiding the real dimension of their suffering in order to take care of their baby and to avoid being judged by others as unfit mothers –which, of course, they are not.
In conclusion, while the baby blues and postpartum depression can have similar symptoms, they are distinct conditions that require different approaches. So, if you are going through some of the challenges before mentioned, please reach out to a counsellor or your healthcare provider. This does not mean you are a bad mother, or that you do not love your baby. Going through these experiences at a time when the social expectations of fulfilment and happiness are so overwhelmingly present can create a sense of guilt, which in turn can be even more isolating. Nevertheless, with appropriate treatment and support, women can recover and enjoy a healthy postpartum period.