baby blues

a friends' wife gave birth a few weeks ago.

She's totally depressed ever since.

I know there is a thing called baby blues but I could only find stuff about music when looking for it.

Help?

thanks, adam.

If she gave birth a few weeks ago, then she's not suffering from the "baby blues" anymore - "baby blues" occurs in the immediate days after birth, and can go on for up to a week. It doesn't require treatment and it's nothing that some rest, help and support from the family and friends, or talking to people with similar experiences won't cure. The symptoms are disturbing, but mild in intensity - sadness, mood swings, irritability, loss of appetite, sleeping troubles (either too much or too little sleep, difficulty or inability to fall asleep), anxiety, loneliness.

The clinical term for what your friend's wife is experiencing is postpartum (postnatal) depression and it's a relatively common disorder (it affects up to 15% of new mothers). What makes it different from the "baby blues" is the time span – it can occur anytime within the first year after birth (as opposed to the "baby blues, that occurs during the first week), and it usually lasts longer. It may range from very mild mood changes, sometimes going unnoticed and untreated, to major psychosis (puerperal psychosis, which is a psychiatric emergency, but fortunately is a rather rare occurrence).

It usually involves excessive sadness, or "empty mood", crying with no apparent reason, constant anxiety, exhaustion, fatigue and lack of energy, psychosomatic symptoms (symptoms like pain, nausea, dizziness etc. that don't have a physical cause), irritability, lack of interest, appetite and pleasure, sleep troubles, poor concentration, lack of motivation, inability to cope, low self-esteem, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, ambivalence about the baby, and even thoughts or attempts of suicide.

Psychotherapy, counseling and antidepressant medication (some are safe to use while breastfeeding, she should consult with her doctor about this) are very effective in treating the postpartum depression, and if she doesn't notice an improvement in the very near future, she should, by all means, seek professional help.

Congratulations and many happy years to come to your friend and his family, and a quick recovery! Come by to let us know how it goes.

It would also be of great help to the MDjunction community to hear of mothers who dealt with this. Anybody...?

The baby blues or postpartum depression, can last up to 2 weeks. Who knows it might even last longer, but truthfully that isn't very likely.

Just make sure that you are really dealing with the baby blues ok? Here is a list of some symptoms:

-sudden mood swings

-crying for no reason

-irritability

-restlessness

-anxiety

-loneliness

-sadness

-low self esteem

-vulnerability

It is not easy being a new mother, after so much waiting and planning and worrying that everything is going to be ok..... the labour is so intense and then its over. Done. No more tummy, no more pregnancy cravings, you're empty. Now you have this new baby, and well its very different and very overwhelming. A mommy feeling down and a bit depressed doesn't usually warrant the diagnosis of full postnatal depression. However I must tell you that true postnatal depression can be a severe mental illness. and persistent depressive symptoms do need professional medical investigation. However, the incredible hormonal, physical, and emotional effects from giving birth and having a baby are widely known to cause emotional symptoms.

Your wife needs as much rest as she can handle right now. Let her stay in bed and rest, but make sure she gets outside for sunshine, plays with the baby, and does some light stretching. No stairs if possible, and please take the baby when he/she cries. Try to help her with anything that could be stressful. If you can't do it, please get someone who can help you. This is really important to help her heal. You can make her smile, if she gets angry or sad, just remember..... It's NOT your fault. You are the one she needs, even when she pushes you away. She needs you, and wants to know that you are there for her no matter what. Do what you can to bond with your precious little bundle, and help her see, by example, the joy of parenting. This is going to get better, don't worry. You guys are going to be great parents. Don't be ashamed to get some help if you need it. We all do from time to time. And trust me, its better to be a whole person with help, than a broken one, alone.

All the best, and please let us know as things get better. If you want, share the things that helped, so other new moms and dads can be encouraged and have some new ideas to make their lives easier.