In becoming a new mom and working with many moms, the topic of the baby blues and postpartum anxiety/depression is a prevalent theme. Not many people understand the difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression/anxiety. When it comes to the baby blues, women tend to experience lowered mood, mood swings, and changes in feelings towards self, coupled with lack of sleep and the new responsibility of caring for another human being for the first two-three weeks after the new baby arrives.
When it comes to postpartum depression, this tends to be a longer-term experience (6 months+) of lowered mood and lack of motivation/energy as well as a struggle to engage in parental duties. I believe it is important to normalize both experiences for new moms as guilt and shame are common side effects of both experiences and can also increase the depression experienced in postpartum.
One of the most important things for moms to do when they notice feelings of postpartum depression and anxiety is to reach out for support and invest in self-care. It can feel conflicting to ask for help and allow yourself to have self-care time, especially in a world where we are told to push through things or to be able to handle stress easily. I often suggest moms to take time to engage in activities they find life-giving such as going for walks, taking a warm bath, taking a nap (as some examples) in order to help manage the baby blues and possibly prevent on-going depression.
If you or someone else you know is struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety, please reach out for support.