Recognizing the Difference of Postpartum Depression and Baby Blues

Contents:

Medical Video: Instructional Videos for Moms- Baby Blues vs. Post-Partum Depression

After giving birth, generally you will feel happy because you finally meet directly with your beloved baby. However, in some people, it will appear a feeling of sadness, anxiety, and depression after giving birth. This condition is known as the baby blues and postpartum depression (postpartum depression). Both of them showed symptoms of sadness and anxiety after giving birth, but they both had differences. Come on, see the article below so that everyone understands both types of conditions.

Do every mother experience this?

Although these two types of psychological disorders often occur, not all mothers experience them. As many as 30-75 percent of women can experience the baby blues after giving birth. While as many as one in seven women can experience postpartum depression or postpartum depression. The risk of experiencing depression will also increase in mothers who have experienced anxiety and depression during pregnancy, experience events that make them depressed during pregnancy, lack of social support, have had a history of depression before, or have family members who have experienced depression.

Differences in postpartum and baby blues depression

Postpartum depression and the baby blues are indeed symptoms of sadness and anxiety after giving birth. However, when viewed from the time it lasts, it turns out they both have differences. Baby blues occur in a shorter time. Baby blues generally last for 2 weeks.

While postpartum depression can occur for weeks to months and if not handled properly and can cause disruption in social life and daily activities of the mother.

Postpartum depression has symptoms similar to the baby blues, namely:

  • Losing pleasure and enthusiasm for doing things that are usually liked
  • Eat in more or fewer portions than usual
  • Experience anxiety or panic continuously
  • Have creepy thoughts
  • Feeling guilty, useless, blaming yourself, experiencing mood labile, and easily upset
  • Feeling deep sadness, crying uncontrollably in a very long period of time
  • Having a concern cannot be a good mother
  • Having a feeling of fear when left alone with a baby
  • Insomnia
  • Difficulty in remembering things and making decisions
  • Have thoughts of hurting a baby

For the baby blues, the symptoms appear lighter. Those who experience baby blues generally will have an unstable mood, difficulty sleeping, crying easily and anxious easily. The term baby blues is a condition that is often used to describe worries, unhappiness, and fatigue that often occurs in women after giving birth to the baby, especially if the mother gives birth to the first child. This is a very common case.

Postpartum depression is caused by many factors (a combination of emotional and physical factors). When the mother finishes giving birth to the baby, the hormone estrogen and progesterone levels will decrease rapidly. This can cause changes to mood mother. In fact, mothers can also experience difficulty sleeping due to changes mood great, even though the rest is needed by the mother after giving birth for recovery.

postpartum depression symptoms postpartum

What are the ways to deal with postpartum depression and the baby blues?

In terms of handling, the two remain different. Baby blues can generally disappear by themselves, although of course there is a need for support from husband, family, and friends.

While postpartum depression requires special treatment. Mothers who experience postpartum depression can try counseling with a therapist. The use of antidepressants can also help restore the mother from depression. Depression that is not handled properly can last for a long time and will have a bad impact on the mother and baby.

To help overcome the symptoms of postpartum depression and baby blues, you can consider the following tips.

  • Eating healthy and nutritious foods. Mothers who experience anxiety generally experience a decrease in appetite. In fact, the adequacy of nutrition and fluids is very important for the recovery of the mother and breastfeeding the baby.
  • Take multivitamins and omega 3 to maintain maternal health.
  • Do not drink alcohol because it can aggravate the condition of depression.
  • Every time a feeling of guilt arises, instill in yourself that this is not your fault. Family and friends support is certainly very necessary for self recovery. You can also try taking therapy and counseling, both individually and in groups.
  • Enough rest. Rest is very necessary for your body's recovery. You can try to relax, meditate, and take a shower with warm water to calm your mind before you sleep.
Recognizing the Difference of Postpartum Depression and Baby Blues
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