The Signs of "Baby Blues"

All mothers have heard of "Baby Blues". No dads, that has nothing to do with the baby. Baby blues is what can happen to the moms. Many women, after having a baby have mood swings. One minute they feel happy, the next minute they start to cry. They may feel a little sad and depressed and have a hard time concentrating. They may lose their appetite or find that they can't sleep well, even when the baby is asleep.

If you're a new mother and have any of these symptoms, you have what are called the "baby blues." "The blues" are considered a normal part of early motherhood and usually go away within 10 days after delivery. However, some women have worse symptoms or symptoms last longer. This is called "postpartum depression."

Here are some symptoms of postpartum depression:
Loss of interest or pleasure in life
Loss of appetite
Less energy and motivation to do things
A hard time falling asleep or staying asleep
Sleeping more than usual
Increased crying or tearfulness
Feeling worthless, hopeless or overly guilty
Feeling restless, irritable or anxious
Unexplained weight loss or gain
Feeling like life isn't worth living
Having thoughts about hurting yourself
Worrying about hurting your baby

This can also happen later, when the child is around four to six months. Depression that occurs within 6 months of childbirth may be postpartum depression. There is also what is called "Postpartum Depression with Anxiety/Panic Disorder" This can be very disturbing. In addition to having symptoms of "Postpartum depression", the new mother may experience:

difficulty concentrating and remembering
difficulty making decisions
difficulty completing simple tasks such as doing the dishes or the laundry
insomnia
exhaustion
loss of appetite
may have suicidal thoughts
Anxiety/Panic Attacks
A lot of the same symptoms just a bit more overwhelming, as the panic attack is added to it. Although the panic attacks are discrete episodes, the individual may develop varying degrees of nervousness and apprehension between attacks characterized by tension, agitation, vigilance and scanning.

A panic attack is, a discreet episode of intense fear reaching its peak intensity within 10 minutes from onset. Often associated with or accompanied by feelings of impending doom.

At least 4 of the following 14 symptoms are present during an attack:

shortness of breath
choking or smothering sensation
palpitations or accelerated heart rate
chest pain or discomfort
sweating
faintness
dizziness, lightheadedness or unsteady feelings
nausea or abdominal distress
depersonalization (feeling disoriented or that the world has become unreal)
tingling sensation (parasthesia)
hot flashes or chills
trembling or shaking
fear of dying
fear of going crazy or doing something uncontrolled
Although it is very rare, there is one more type of "postpartum depression". "Postpartum psychosis" only occurs in approximately one in one thousand new mothers. It is an obvious disorder that requires immediate hospitalization. Symptoms include:

hyperactivity
increased rate of speech
delusions
paranoia
extreme confusion
hallucinations
extreme depression
With immediate treatment, psychotic episodes usually cease in about 8-9 weeks. It's hard to say how long the baby blues last. Some women feel better within a few weeks, but others feel depressed or "not themselves" for many months. Women who have more severe symptoms of depression or who have had depression in the past may take longer to get well. Just remember that help is available and that you can get better.

Here are some ways to get help if you feel depressed:

Find someone to talk to--and tell that person about your feelings.

Get in touch with people who can help you with child care, household chores and errands. This social support network will help you find time for yourself so you can rest.

Find time to do something for yourself, even if it's only 15 minutes a day. Try reading, exercising (walking is good for you and easy to do), taking a bath or meditating.

Keep a diary. Every day, write down your emotions and feelings as a way of "letting it all out." Once you begin to feel better, you can go back and reread your diary--this will help you see how much better you are.

Even if you can only get one thing done in any given day, this is a step in the right direction. There may be days when you can't get anything done. Try not to get angry with yourself when this happens.

It's OK to feel overwhelmed. Childbirth brings many changes, and parenting is challenging. When you're not feeling like yourself, these changes can seem like too much to cope with.

You're not expected to be a "super mom." Be honest about how much you can do, and ask other people to help you.

Find a support group in your area or contact one of the organizations listed below. They can put you in touch with people near you who have experience with postpartum depression.

Talk with your doctor about how you feel. He or she may offer counseling and/or medicines that can help.

Just remember moms have been dealing with this for years, your not alone and you will get through it.