Every woman feels strange after delivering a baby. A feeling that can last several days to several months. This feeling starts about 4 to 5 days after delivery and is called “Baby blues.” Baby blues happens to 70-80% of women who start getting mixed up feelings of both happiness & intense love for their baby as well as the feeling of sadness that they usually hide from others. It’s ok to be sad, and it is very typical.
Often, a woman undergoing the baby blues is overwhelmed by the intensity of responsibility that she now realizes to be facing along with the dissatisfaction with her figure, extreme fatigue, chores, and insomnia! This feeling appears typically daily from minutes to hours then disappear on its own.
There is no exact explanation regarding what is the primary cause of baby blues. It is assumed to be the consequence of the crazy hormonal shifts occurring during delivery after that leads to chemical changes in the brain.
What are the Symptoms?
Baby blues has a wide range of symptoms that can vary with length and intensity from a mother to another. These usually include:
- Irritability
- Crying for no reason
- Insomnia & extreme Fatigue
- Sadness and extreme mood swings
- Anxiety and Debilitating fear of the future
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness
AS long as these symptoms disappear within the first six months, then you are ok, and things will be just fine. Just realize that you are not alone in this and things will turn out just perfectly for you and your baby! When the symptoms surpass the six months, then we are dealing now with post-partum depression that needs a little bit more attention!
What is Postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression can start with the baby blues and aggravate around six months after delivery. The symptoms, even though very similar to the baby blues, are very intense and can prohibit the mother from taking good care of her baby and herself. During this phase, the mother even loses interest in the things that were once her source of joy and happiness, along with thoughts of harming herself or even at its worst committing suicide! If you think you are having these symptoms, you need to talk to your doctor about it so you can both discuss the possible solutions for a patient, quick recovery.
My partner is suffering from baby blues/Postpartum depression, what can I do?
It is essential to be there to your partner after delivery. It is normal to be feeling an overjoy because you are now a father, but don’t forget the amount of pain, and sacrifice your wife went through to make sure your baby is born safe and healthy! If you think there is nothing you can do, think twice! Your role is significant in your wife’s recovery from her normal phase of baby blues or even post-partum depression. You need to be attentive to her needs and don’t make her feel unattractive. Also, try to help her around the house and with the care of the baby. If possible, take some night shifts for watching your baby and let her have a good night sleep. Finally, pamper her, spend time with her, and most important of all: never judge her!
Read this article in Arabic by clicking here.
