Do you just have the blues? Or is it depression?

Take a look at the signs and symptoms of each to help you talk to your doctor about how your feel.

Baby Blues

Onset: 3 days- 6 weeks
Statistics: Very common – 8 in 10 women

Physical symptoms

• Drastic mood swings
• Food cravings or loss of appetite
• No energy
• Lack of sleep

Emotional symptoms

• Anxiety; worry; sadness
• Confusion and nervousness
• Not feeling yourself
• Lack of confidence
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Irritability

Treatment

• Rest
• Proper nutrition
• Support from family, friends and other mothers

Postpartum Anxiety

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

• Uncontrollable, excessive worry or anxiety
• Restlessness; Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Irritabilty
• Muscle Tension

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Obsessive thoughts about harming the baby, yourself or others
• Disturbing thoughts
• Uncontrollable, repetitive, ritualistic behaviors (pulling out hair, sterilizing the same clean bottles 20 times a day)

Panic Disorder

• Extreme anxiety
• Chest pains; dizziness; sweating; shaking
• Feelings of loss of control

Postpartum Depression

Onset: 6 weeks- 1 year
Statistics: Common – 1 in 10 women

Physical symptoms

• Marked weight loss or gain
• Changes in sleeping patterns
• Crying Spells
• Withdrawal; despair; avoiding the baby
• Numbness; chest pains; heart palpitations

Emotional symptoms

• Feelings of inadequacy or powerlessness
• Thoughts of suicide
• Feelings of shame, embarrassment and/or guilt
• Fears or thoughts of harming the baby
• Anger or no feelings towards the baby

Treatment

• Contact your medical professional
• Counseling
• Support from family, friends and other mothers

Severe Postpartum Depression

Onset: Can occur up to one year after childbirth
Statistics: Rare – 1 in 1,000 women

Symptoms

• Hallucinations
• Delusions – often religious
• Irrational statements
• Severe insomnia
• Refusal to eat
• Extreme anxiety and agitation
• Suicidal or homicidal thoughts
• Lack of attention to personal hygiene
• Frantic, excessive energy
• Avoidance of the baby

Treatment

• Contact your medical provider immediately
• Same as postpartum depression