The baby blues

What are the baby blues?

Soon after giving birth, you may feel moody, weepy and irritable. This is called the baby blues (BB 2014). It’s probably the last thing you expected to feel after the joy and elation of having your baby.

The baby blues are so common that they are considered to be normal (Mind 2013). About eight in 10 mums experience it (BB 2014).

You may feel:

• anxious
• unable to concentrate
• tired, yet unable to sleep
• tearful, without knowing why
  (APNI nd)

What causes the baby blues?

The baby blues are thought to be linked to hormonal changes that happen during the week after giving birth (BB 2014). Your body has some major adjustments to make, which may include coming down from the adrenaline high that you felt when your baby was born.

Hormones needed during your pregnancy leave your body just as those that start breastmilk production are being turned on (APNI nd). It's not just physical changes that are happening to you, though. Your emotions are likely to be put through the wringer, too. The new sense of responsibility that comes with having a baby, and the uncertainty you feel in this new role can be overwhelming.

The reality of parenthood may not hit you until you’ve left hospital or the birth centre, and are spending your first few days at home without the help of midwives. You may or may not love being a mum, and your new role may be making you feel trapped and fretful.

You may be uncertain about how to care for your newborn baby and feel a huge anticlimax after the birth. You’re likely to be exhausted, but you may not be able to get a good night's sleep, or a decent nap during the day, even when your baby is sleeping.

How long will the baby blues last?

You may feel that being a mum will always be like this. But don't worry, if this is the baby blues, things will get better, and quite quickly, too. The baby blues isn’t an illness, and usually lasts for just a few days (BB 2014). You'll probably feel your worst between the third day and fifth day after your baby is born (PANDA nd).

The baby blues should lift within the next few days, without the need to see a doctor (BB 2014). With as much rest as possible and reassurance from your family and friends you’ll soon start to feel better (PANDA nd).

If you still feel down or teary a month or so after having your baby, you may have postnatal depression (PND) (BB 2014). If you think you might have PND, speak to your midwife, child health nurse or GP, who can offer you advice, support and a referral for treatment.

How can I help someone with the baby blues feel better?

If you’re a partner, relative or friend of a mum with the baby blues, reassure her that it's normal to feel this way. She may be exhausted and unsure of herself. Try the following:

• help her to organise her time and work out what needs doing now and what can wait
• cook dinner for her or make some meals for the freezer
• encourage her to rest as much as possible
• tell her what a great mum she is
• keep visitors to a minimum
• if she wants to cry, let her
• listen to her

Above all, let her know you’re there for her, no matter what. Give her the space she needs to take care of herself, too (Mind 2013).

Read about the postnatal symptoms you should never ignore, postnatal depression, postnatal anxiety and postpartum psychosis.