What’s the
difference between the baby bleus and post partum depression and how
do you know which one you have? Hi everybody this is Rebecca Powell
for Baby Talk Radio. My friend Jenny thought she had the baby blues
the day she left the hospital to go home with her new baby. She
said that she didn’t even want to go home.
She was
afraid to leave the doctors and nurses and head home to care for her
new baby. She knew that she was experiencing some unusual feelings
but she thought it must be the baby blues. Like a lot of women my
friend Jenny came to motherhood with a list of expectations of what
mothering would be like. When she faced these unfamiliar feelings
and fears she thought it must be the baby blues she had heard so
much about.
50% of all
women experience the baby blues but actually a mild form of post
partum depression the baby blues are generally characterized by a
sense of anxiety, feelings of fearfulness, depression, moodiness,
tearfulness, a feeling of disappointment and fatigue. The baby
blues generally occur on the third day post partum which usually
coincides with the first few days home from the hospital.
Symptoms of
the baby blues are temporary and usually do not require treatment.
A mom who is experiencing the baby blues needs extra emotional
support and plenty of sleep. The baby blues can last anywhere from
2 days to 2 weeks. Full blown post partum depression however is
characterized by many of these same symptoms but the difference is
that the symptoms continue and even become worse.
Post partum
depression becomes debilitating. Its symptoms can begin to look like
these: difficulty sleeping, appetite disturbances, impaired
concentration, irritability, feelings of excessive guilt,
uncontrollable crying spells, suicidal thoughts, a lack of interest
in the baby or excessive worry about the baby and an inability to
cope with every day life.
When Jenny’s
feelings began to impair her quality of living even resulting in a
panic attack she and her husband quickly sought professional help.
If you wonder if your feelings warrant professional help ask
yourself these two questions: number one – am I having reductions
in my quality of life? And number two – am I completely myself?
Remember
post partum depression is temporary and treatable. Medication can
be used proactively beginning in the third trimester and there are
many options available to safely medicate a new mom post partum even
if she is breastfeeding.
Next time on
Baby Talk Radio I’ll be giving you some sure fire tips for tackling
the baby blues. Until then visit me on the web at
http://www.rebeccapowell.com and thanks for listening to Baby
Talk Radio.
