Is this “Postpartum Depression?”

I’ve been getting the question a lot lately: What is postpartum depression, and how is it different from the baby blues?

 Postpartum depression is just one of the ways a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder (PMAD) can present, but sometimes it can be hard to tease out just what a new (or new again) mom may be experiencing in the early weeks after delivery.

 For many moms the early weeks following the birth of their baby can feel emotional, and much of this can be attributed to the nose-dive in hormones/estrogen crash once baby has been delivered. It can also be because of all the sudden changes to your life, and the incredibly hard work that goes along with adjusting to the brand new baby. Some moms might also feel tender emotions in the weeks following baby’s delivery as they work through processing the magnitude of the birth experience itself, especially if it was scary or traumatic for them in some way.

 While many of the symptoms and experiences of baby blues and PMADs (perinatal mood/anxiety disorders) may look the same, there is a key difference:

With baby blues, your symptoms will generally resolve within the first few weeks and you will soon return to a general sense of well-being and health after that.

But a PMAD can last much longer, and sometimes the symptoms don’t even show up right away – they can appear as much as six months later for some women!

This PsychCentral article helps break down some of the diagnostic criteria of postpartum depression specifically. But it’s important to remember that the anxiety side of postpartum is just as disruptive, even if it doesn’t get the same attention.

A lot of times, depression and anxiety symptoms go hand in hand, but sometimes what you experience may feel more like irritability, fear or worry than a depressed mood. Some of the anxiety symptoms named in the PsychCenteral article include:

-       Fear that you’re not a good mother

-       Problems with appetite (loss of appetite or eating more than usual)

-       Problems with sleep (problems falling asleep or sleeping too much)

-       Intense irritability or irrational anger

-       Difficulty in thinking clearly, concentrating, or making decisions

-       Severe anxiety or panic attacks

-       Intrusive or obsessive thoughts that are bothersome

If it’s been more than a few weeks and you find yourself still experiencing any of these anxiety-related symptoms, don’t wait to reach out – you could have a Perinatal Mood or Anxiety. And if your symptoms are causing you distress, no matter how long you’ve been experiencing them, you should definitely also seek help – because support will help you feel better and you’re not supposed to suffer.

Otherwise the “few weeks” rule-of-thumb is important to keep in mind, because PMADs generally don’t resolve without professional help and can last months or even years when left untreated.

If you think you may have postpartum depression or anxiety, get in touch with me – motherbloomwellness@gmail.com. I’d love to help you find your way to a healthier and happier motherhood journey.