How is postpartum depression different from the "Baby Blues"?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is professionally approved by Specialist I Pham Thi Yen - Obstetrician - Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International Hospital

More and more mothers face fluctuating emotions, postpartum psychological disorders. But is the postpartum depression you're experiencing just a temporary mood, or a warning sign of a more serious condition, such as postpartum depression?

1. Postpartum psychological disorders

Having a baby is a big change in a woman's life. Many people will feel happy and proud of their new family member, but there are also many mothers who feel disappointed and overwhelmed. These postpartum psychological disorders are completely normal if they only appear for a short time.
After giving birth, a woman's hormone levels drop, affecting her mood. Newborns' routines can be very erratic, preventing a mother from getting enough sleep. Worrying about taking care of young children also exposes women to a type of stress they've never experienced before. These are factors that make the new mother more irritable.
Up to 80% of new mothers suffer from "baby blues" - a short-term depression caused by all the physical, mental and life changes that come with having a baby. These feelings usually begin when your baby is 2 to 3 days old. The mother may feel better 1 - 2 weeks after the baby is born, when things are starting to fall into place,
If your feelings of sadness last longer or get worse If you don't get better, you could develop postpartum depression. This condition is more severe and lasts longer than the baby blues, which occurs in about 10% of women who have just given birth. You're more likely to have postpartum depression if you've had depression before or if you have a family member with it.

2. Differentiate between baby blues and postpartum depression

2.1. Baby Blues Symptoms For many women, the "baby blues" pass quickly, appearing shortly after childbirth and are characterized by rapid mood swings that range from very happy to very sad. Some women may cry for no apparent reason, or feel impatient, irritable, restless, anxious or lonely...
Typical symptoms of this stage:
Rapid mood swings quickly from happy to sad. You just feel proud of your motherhood, and then you cry because you think you're not doing a good job Don't want to eat or take care of yourself because you're exhausted Feeling irritable , Overwhelming and worrying.

These feelings may last only a few hours, or for 1 - 2 weeks after giving birth. However, there are cases where postpartum psychosis does not improve over time, but gets worse and worse.
2.2. Symptoms of postpartum depression Some women with postpartum depression (PPD) may feel sad or unworthy for long periods of time, have decreased concentration or memory loss, and listlessness. The feeling can be similar to the baby blues, but more intense. Some new mothers also feel guilty for not being able to bond and be close to their baby.
Specific symptoms are as follows:
Always feel hopeless, sad, worthless or lonely and often cry Feeling that you are not doing your job well as a mother Unable to attach and be close to the baby Newborn Unable to eat, sleep or care for baby because of despair May experience anxiety and panic attacks. Postpartum depression can appear soon after giving birth or several months later, not only in women giving birth for the first time, but also with subsequent visits. When a woman's ability to perform daily activities is affected by these feelings, she may develop postpartum depression.

3. How to control Baby Blues

Baby Blues is usually caused by changing hormone levels, but can also be caused by unmet maternal expectations, the reality of perinatal care being overwhelming, or a combination of all three factors. . Unlike postpartum depression, baby blues are quite common and do not require treatment.
Postpartum women will start to feel better if they listen to their own bodies during this stressful time. Specifically:
Sleep as much as possible and take advantage of rest when the child naps Eat healthy foods Take a walk, exercise, breathe in fresh air and expose to natural morning sunlight Accept help when people suggest Relax, don't worry about housework. Instead, focus only on yourself and your baby.

4. How to treat postpartum depression

Researchers believe that changes in hormone levels after birth play a role in developing depression. Your doctor may prescribe brexanolone (Zulresso), a new synthetic version of the hormone allopregnanolone. This medication is recognized as effective in reducing symptoms of postpartum depression. You may also be offered psychological counseling or prescribed antidepressants to control symptoms.
Decreased thyroid hormone levels in the postpartum period will cause symptoms similar to postpartum depression. Thyroid problems can also be treated with medication.
A third type of postpartum phenomenon to consider is postpartum psychosis which, although less common, is a serious illness. Psychosis occurs within days to 3 weeks of birth, as long as three months. A woman has postpartum psychosis away from reality, often with hallucinations or paranoia. Fortunately, this disease can also be treated with medication.

If you have symptoms of postpartum depression or the baby blues do not improve after 2 weeks postpartum, contact your doctor immediately. Women often try to hide, do not want to tell anyone about feeling depressed after giving birth. However, openness and treatment will help you love life again soon. Therefore, it is important to seek help from a medical professional quickly.
If the mother has health problems, psychological problems, depression after giving birth, she can go to Vinmec International General Hospital for a specialist health and psychological examination. Vinmec is an address for examination, consultation and treatment of psychological diseases and mental health that is chosen and appreciated by many people today.
As an outpatient treatment center, the clinic is invested with a system of modern equipment and facilities, in order to create a comfortable space for patients to examine and consult, to easily open their hearts and share their pressures. psychological force, effective support for the treatment process. The clinic owns a team of medical doctors, psychologists from leading hospitals and centers in the country. Among them are many lecturers and professors teaching psychiatry at Hanoi Medical University. With experience and high professional ability, the medical team at the Psychology clinic - Vinmec International General Hospital will help shorten the treatment process and improve treatment efficiency. The clinic is capable of deploying psychological tests and intensive psychotherapy for medical examination and treatment.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

References: webmd.com, stanfordchildrens.org