Is It ‘Baby Blues,’ Postpartum Depression or Anxiety?

New mothers experience a wide range of emotions after giving birth, and not all of them are pleasant (to put it mildly). Yes, we love our baby. But yes, we’re also exhausted and have just gone through and are recovering from one of the most physically difficult experiences of our entire lives. It’s pretty normal for the challenges and changes to be overwhelming. But how do you know if what you are experiencing is anxiety, “baby blues,” or a potentially life-threatening case of postpartum depression? We asked obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, Dr. Alan Lindemann for a few key differences.

Pre- and Postpartum Anxiety

Anxiety is a common disorder, with women twice as likely to be diagnosed with it as men. If you historically suffer from anxiety, it’s a good idea to put strategies in place to manage it to help keep you and your baby happy and healthy during and after your pregnancy. Onset of new pathologic anxiety during or directly following pregnancy is not incredibly common, but if you think you might have it, it’s important to communicate with your care provider to get additional support as needed.

General anxiety or nervousness about caring for your newborn, navigating new sleep patterns, and all the other postpartum concerns new mothers face, however, is very normal and does not in and of itself require treatment. However if you feel you need help with it, reach out to your health care provider as soon as you can. Anxiety can accompany other more concerning symptoms that do require intervention. Read on for details.

“Baby Blues”

Initial sadness and difficulty caring for your newborn in the first couple weeks after giving birth is often called “the baby blues.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says this is not uncommon, and that it typically resolves on its own. If you find that your baby blues are lasting longer than the first couple weeks after birth, it’s time to call your care provider. Baby blues after ten weeks are classified as postpartum depression.

Postpartum Depression (PPD)

It’s important to note that many times, new mothers don’t really recognize they are depressed. If you have any notion you might be depressed after giving birth, seek medical attention as soon as possible, the sooner the better. If unable to get an appointment with your physician, try your community hotlines for depression as a place to start.

Some of the most common signs that you may be suffering from postpartum  depression include:

Overwhelming feelings of sadness.

Feeling fatigued, like you can’t get anything done.

Feeling unmotivated to care for yourself or your baby.

 Having trouble breastfeeding your baby, emotionally or physically.

Feeling like you’re not a good parent.

Seeking help for these symptoms is completely normal and is also crucial. When postpartum depression is not addressed, new moms can become a suicide risk. When the depression continues to deepen from lack of treatment, a new mother can enter the stage of postpartum psychosis. With psychosis, the lives of her family can also be potentially at risk. As you can see, PPD is certainly nothing to take lightly. When trying to figure out whether you are dealing with anxiety, baby blues, or PPD, ask the following questions:

 Are these feelings of anxiety new (not preexisting)?

Have feelings of sadness/depression lasted longer than two weeks?

Do I feel physically and mentally unable to care for myself and my baby?

If you answer yes to any of these three questions, contact your physician. If you are concerned about yourself or a loved one who may be suffering from postpartum depression, connect with your physician as soon as possible so you can be referred to a psychiatric specialist.

Remember, you’ve just gone through one of the biggest experiences a human can have - there is no shame in facing this common condition.

The most important thing is to take action quickly to resolve it — and know that it absolutely can be resolved. You don’t and shouldn’t have to navigate any of it alone.

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An obstetrician and maternal mortality expert, “Rural Doc” Dr Alan Lindemann, M.D. teaches women and their families how to create the outcomes they want for their own personal health and pregnancy. A former Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of North Dakota, he is currently a clinical faculty member available to serve as preceptor with medical students in rural rotations. In his nearly 40 years of practice.