Baby Blues or PostPartum Depression?
Is It Baby Blues or Something More? A Guide for the Tender Days
This is not a diagnostic tool but a gentle guide. Please consult a provider for individualized support.
The early days of motherhood are emotional—full of joy, overwhelm, and everything in between. If you're wondering whether you're experiencing baby blues or something more serious like postpartum depression, you're not alone.
Let’s gently talk about the difference between the baby blues and something more persistent—postpartum depression and/or post partum anxiety (PPD/A). You are most certainly NOT alone, mama.
What Are the Baby Blues? Common PostPartum Emotional Changes.
The “baby blues” affect about 70–80% of new moms and typically show up within the first few days after birth. I know, mama. That’s overwhelming. But it also reminds you that you’re not alone!
They’re caused by several factors: partly the dramatic hormonal shifts after delivery, partnered with sleep deprivation and the huge identity transition of becoming a parent. And life is still life: you may still have other kiddos running around, bills to pay, life to life. It’s a lot at first. But give yourself grace and give weight to the hormone shifts: it’s like PMS on steroids, mama.
Signs of the baby blues might include:
Mood swings
Tearfulness or crying more easily (or a lot more easily!)
Feeling overwhelmed
Irritability
Trouble sleeping (even when baby is asleep)
Key thing to know:
These feelings are common and usually peak around day 4 or 5 postpartum, then begin to ease. Most people feel improvement by 2 weeks postpartum. Knowledge is power, mama. These stats aren’t meant to scare you, but empower you. If you know to expect this, it’s less scary when you do feel out of sorts. And it’s not the only thing you will feel. There will be sweet toes and tiny sighs and new smells and heart explosions as well.
How To Tell When Is It More Than Baby Blues:
If emotional distress lasts longer than two weeks, or feels like it’s intensifying, it could be postpartum depression or anxiety. These are real, treatable conditions that deserve support and care. And roughly 1 in 7 women experience a PMAD (PPD/PPA/PPOCD etc) during the first year postpartum. Some studies show numbers as high as 20-25%. So, mama. Let me say it again, you’re not alone, and there are some steps that can be taken to get you feeling more like yourself!
When I was going through the early days of healing and baby blues fog, I remember looking out at the pond which was a few football fields away from the house we were in at the time and thinking: “someday… someday I will be able to walk down there again.” The severity of my tear and the overwhelm I was feeling - in all the ways - made even walking a familiar path feel utterly inaccessible. A pipe dream. Obviously, with time, it was accessible, as was running, and yoga and all the things. Trust me, you will find your way again, mama. Use it as a mantra if you need to. “I will find my way through the dark.”
Signs of Postpartum Depression may include:
Ongoing sadness, hopelessness, or numbness
Trouble bonding with baby
Feeling like you’re failing or “not yourself”
Feeling intense guilt or shame about mothering, etc.
Withdrawing from loved ones
Appetite changes (eating much less or more)
Feeling like you're just going through the motions
Signs of Postpartum Anxiety may include:
Racing thoughts, constant worry and/or checking behaviors (especially about baby’s health or safety)
Feeling on edge, restless, or panicky
Physical symptoms like nausea, dizziness, or a racing heart
Difficulty sleeping even when baby is sleeping
Intrusive thoughts or images that feel scary or distressing
Sometimes, these symptoms show up together—PPD and PPA often overlap. We won’t go over postpartum OCD in this post, but will at a later time do a deeper dive into this particular experience of postpartum.
A Gentle Checklist
Ask yourself:
Are these feelings interfering with my ability to care for myself or my baby?
Have they lasted more than 2 weeks?
Do I feel like I’m not getting better—or maybe even getting worse?
Do I feel like I’m in survival mode every day?
Do I feel worried about these symptoms? Does my partner or someone I love express concern?
If you answered yes to any of these, please know this: it's not your fault, and you're not alone. What you’re experiencing is common, and help is available.
What To Do Next
Tell someone you trust—a partner, friend, doctor, or therapist.
Reach out to a perinatal mental health provider (like the ones listed on Postpartum Support International or my Resource page).
Know that treatment works. With support—therapy, sometimes medication, rest, community—you will begin to feel more like yourself again. We truly need a village, mama. This can be a lonely season, and it takes courage to reach out and say, “I need help.”
One Final Thought
Becoming a parent is one of the biggest transformations a person can go through. If you’re feeling lost, foggy, or like you’re falling apart—you’re not broken. You’re in the midst of becoming. And you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re unsure whether it’s just baby blues or postpartum depression, know that help is available.
You are worthy of support, dear mama. YOU, not just your baby.
💛