World Health Day is commemorated every year on April 7th. It is now more important than ever to improve public health awareness, particularly among moms. The following article will disucss the worries that new mothers have after their babies are born. What's the difference between Baby Blues and PPD (Postpartum Depression)? Let's see the discussion below.

The birth of a child is a major life change. Most mothers are thrilled and proud of their new family member, but many are also angry and overwhelmed. It's natural to feel that way for a while. Changes in reproductive hormones after childbirth can affect a mother's mood. In addition, lack of rest, inadequate nutrition, isolation, lack of support from a partner, health problems, high baby needs or other stressors can cause or worsen depression in the mother.1

Postpartum (postpartum) depression is a condition when feelings of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, and the like appear heavier than the baby blues. This condition is experienced by 1 in 7 women who give birth. Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression does not go away on its own. Meanwhile, the baby blues is a condition that occur for 2 to 3 days after giving birth (usually lasting no more than 2 weeks). In these conditions, a mother could experience feelings such as anxiety, sadness, feeling unable to care for a baby, anger, and other similar symptoms. Eighty percent of all women who give birth are in this circumstance.2

 

 

 

 

How To Know If You Have The Baby Blues Or Postpartum Depression?

Symptoms of Baby Blues1

  • Mood changes rapidly from happy to sad. One minute you're proud of the job you're doing as a new mom, then you're crying because you don't feel ready for the job.
  • Lack of appetite or taking care of yourself due to fatigue.
  • Feeling irritable, overwhelmed, and anxious.

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression1,2

  • Feeling inferior and lacking emotion
  • Difficulty sleeping at night (even when baby is sleeping)
  • Significant changes in appetite (usually decreased)
  • Worrying too much and feeling guilty
  • Cry a lot
  • Desperate (feeling hopeless)

How to Overcome the Symptoms of Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

Overcoming the Baby Blues2

  • Get as much sleep as possible and rest when your baby naps.
  • Eat good and nutritious food.
  • Sightseeing and sports
  • Relax and don't worry about your tasks as a new mother. Accept help when someone else offers it.
  • Just focus on you and your baby.1

Overcoming Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is usually treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two. Discuss your concerns with a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional. Through psychotherapy, you can find ways to deal with emotions, solve problems, set realistic goals, and respond to situations in a positive way. Your doctor may recommend an antidepressant. If you are breastfeeding, any medication you take passes into breast milk. However, most antidepressants can be used while breastfeeding with little risk of side effects on your baby. With proper treatment, postpartum depression symptoms usually resolve quickly. However, in some cases, postpartum depression can progress to chronic depression.3

If you experience symptoms of the baby blues after giving birth, consult your doctor immediately. You can also seek help from a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional.

References:

  1. Shoshana Bennett MD, et al. Do I Have The Baby Blues Or Postpartum Depression?. American Pregnancy Association. Updated on January 01, 2021. Available at: https://americanpregnancy.org/healthy-pregnancy/first-year-of-life/baby-blues-or-postpartum-depression/
  2. Lisa Fields,et al. Is It Postpartum Depression or ‘Baby Blues’?. WebMD. Updated on March 14, 2021. Available at:

https://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/postpartum-depression-baby-blues

  1. Edwin Jonathan MD,et al. Baby Blues.Link Sehat. Updated on March 05, 2021. Available at: https://linksehat.com/artikel/baby-blues
  2. Felicia Gunawan MD,et al. Depresi (Postpartum) Pasca Melahirkan. Link Sehat. Updated on March 13, 2020. Available at:

https://linksehat.com/artikel/depresi-postpartum-pasca-melahirkan