Feeling weepy, overwhelmed, or disconnected after birth is more common than most people admit. Here's how to know when what you're experiencing needs professional support.
Dr. Lena Park
LPC, PMH-C
The days after giving birth are emotionally raw in ways nobody fully prepares you for. Understanding the difference between the baby blues and postpartum depression can help you get the right support at the right time.
Up to 80% of new mothers experience the baby blues in the first days after birth. Symptoms include crying easily, feeling overwhelmed, mood swings, and irritability. They are tied to the dramatic hormonal shifts that follow delivery and typically resolve on their own within two weeks.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is different in both intensity and duration. It affects roughly 1 in 5 new mothers and can emerge any time in the first year. Symptoms include persistent sadness or emptiness, feeling disconnected from your baby, difficulty concentrating, significant changes in appetite or sleep, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
PPD is not a character flaw. It is a medical condition with highly effective treatments, including therapy, medication, or both.
If your symptoms last beyond two weeks, significantly interfere with daily functioning, or include any thoughts of self-harm, please reach out to your OB, midwife, or a perinatal mental health specialist. You don't have to wait until things feel unbearable.
Perinatal mental health specialists who hold the PMH-C certification are trained specifically in the emotional experiences of pregnancy and postpartum. You can find one near you on matrea.
Ready to find a Mental Health specialist near you?
Search matrea to find providers in your area who accept your insurance.
Find a Provider