Postpartum depression (PPD) impacts more women than many of us realise. Up to 30% of new mums are thought to experience it in some form and it can blight a time in your life that should be joyful. This is an important article for mums to be and their partners, as the baby blues – that hormonal period after birth when you feel quite weepy — is both more common and less serious than PPD, making it easy to confuse the symptoms and ignore the more serious condition. Let’s look at them both in more detail, explaining how to identify depression and get help if you need it. Mental healthcare is increasingly less stigmatised but there’s still work to be done to ensure that mums get the right support. Remember the old adage that is so often true: a happy mum is a happy baby. Looking out for yourself is also what is best for your little one. It is in no way selfish or weak to focus on this aspect of your health.

What are the baby blues?

The baby blues, sometimes called postpartum blues, is a dip in a mum’s emotional rollercoaster that starts the week after birth, often in days three-to-five when her breast milk comes in. It is caused by hormonal changes and can come as quite a shock to women with no history of feeling this down. However, the key thing to remember about the baby blues is that they shouldn’t last longer than two weeks.

How will I know if I have the baby blues?

Symptoms of this state include:

Tiredness (this would happen even if you didn’t have the baby blues, you’ve just given birth, but it is exacerbated by hormonal changes)
Feeling overwhelmed (again, this would be common anyway because having a new baby is such a monumental change in your life and is now real)
Feeling weepy and more anxious than usual
Night sweats (blame those hormones again)
Frustration with your partner
Feeling sore (postpartum pain is both normal and tiring, so take those painkillers)

Scrutinising your own body in this period can be especially upsetting and a bit unfair to yourself, as you’re still in physical recovery. Your bump will not yet have gone down, your breasts will be an unfamiliar shape and size, and you may have a line of dark hair, known as linea negra, extending from your navel downwards. If you had a caesarean section, the scar may still look quite inflamed. Some women recommend waiting a fortnight or so before really taking a good look. You have a baby to feed and care for and it will be weeks before you can safely return to exercise so there isn’t a whole lot you can do about your shape yet. You could focus, in the interim, on the wonderful gift your amazing body’s given you.

How will I know if it’s something more serious?

The time your symptoms emerge, as well as their duration, is significant. The baby blues usually subside within a fortnight of giving birth. Postpartum depression can happen at any time in the first year of your baby’s life and can come on gradually or suddenly. It can be hard to find the time but some women who’ve been through it recommend jotting down your feelings in a diary or even scoring each day out of ten to keep track of how you’re doing emotionally.

What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?

It’s important to understand that this condition has a broad range of potential symptoms that include feelings and behaviour that don’t feel like depression, including anxiety, traumatic flashbacks to the birth, or obsessive compulsive habits.

Are some women at greater risk of PPD than others?

Women who've had depression or some other mental health issues before (including PPD after a previous pregnancy) are more vulnerable. A family history of depression can also play a role, but PPD can happen to women without any personal or family history of mental health problems.

You gave birth prematurely
You gave birth to twins or other multiples
Your child has birth defects and/or needed special care at birth
You smoke or use alcohol or recreational drugs
You have relationship stress or are a victim of domestic violence
You have diabetes
You struggle with aspects of caring for your baby, such as breastfeeding

Is there anything I can do in pregnancy to prevent postpartum depression?

There isn’t any one thing that’s going to prevent postpartum depression but there are some evidence-based steps you can take to reduce your risk.

Stay active
Eat a balanced diet
Keep your antenatal appointments
Make sure you have social support. This can include forming friendships with other women in your antenatal classes, if this feels comfortable, but having people to talk to generally.

How is postpartum depression treated?

Treatments include self-help through self-care, sleeping and eating well, exercising and leaning on those around you. You may also have talking therapies like CBT recommended to you, as well as be prescribed medication. There is a range of complementary remedies aimed at tackling PPD, though the evidence for them . Acupuncture is positively regarded as an alternative or complement to antidepressants but does not work for everyone.

Can postpartum depression just go away by itself?

This is possible, and it’s normal not to want to complain about symptoms of depression when you feel obligated to be overjoyed by motherhood and just wait for them to pass. However, PPD is a mental illness that requires treatment and, in some cases, can become a longterm issue if you do not seek help.

How can I tell if I have the baby blues or postpartum depression?

Duration is a key difference, explains Unii.