Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

Postpartum depression vs. baby blues: Here’s how to tell the difference

Marie Holmes
By

In the momentous days and weeks following the birth of a child, it is normal to experience a roller coaster of emotions, including sadness. Your body undergoes significant physical changes post-birth, and at the same time, you go through the psychological transformation of becoming a parent. Feelings of overwhelm or anxiety during this time are commonly referred to as “the baby blues”, and they are both normal and expected. Postpartum depression, however, is a different diagnosis and a more serious condition — one you shouldn’t try to treat by yourself. There is a fair amount of overlap in symptoms, so it can be confusing to figure out which diagnosis fits your situation. 

The difference between postpartum and peripartum

Note that you will see postpartum depression also called peripartum depression, so it is important to understand the difference between postpartum and peripartum. Postpartum refers to the period of time after a person has given birth, while peripartum includes the time before the baby is born, while you are still pregnant. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, half of major depressive disorders “actually begin prior to delivery or postpartum,” and therefore all of these depressive episodes are referred to collectively as peripartum depression. 

Recommended Videos

If you are wondering whether what you’re feeling is the baby blues versus depression, here’s what to consider. 

Related

Timing

The baby blues usually appear two or three days after giving birth and last for up to two weeks, according to a guide published by the Mayo Clinic. During the first twenty-four hours after birth, your estrogen and progesterone levels, which are extremely elevated during pregnancy, rapidly return to normal. This commonly triggers mood swings. Postpartum or peripartum depression, however, can begin prior to delivery or any time in the first year following childbirth. If your emotional issues are still present two weeks after birth, it’s a good indication that you should check in with a healthcare provider. 

Intensity

If you’re experiencing the baby blues, it’s common to feel sad, overwhelmed, or anxious, and to have episodes of crying, trouble sleeping, difficulty focusing, or poor appetite. Depression can cause these same symptoms, but they are likely to be more intense and may also include difficulty bonding with your baby, withdrawal from family and friends, loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy, thoughts of worthlessness or hopelessness, and even thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. 

If you have thoughts of hurting your baby or committing suicide, it is essential to enlist a partner or loved one to care for your infant while you get immediate medical attention by contacting your provider, calling 911, or heading to the emergency room. 

Duration

While the baby blues generally fade a couple of weeks after birth, peripartum depression can continue for months, or even longer. If your mood swings, sadness, or anxiety extend beyond those first two weeks with your baby, it’s time to check in with your healthcare provider about your mental health. 

Childbirth not required

Although crashing hormone levels can trigger sadness and anxiety and may contribute to the onset of depression, you can develop peripartum depression even if you were not the person who gave birth. Adoptive parents, fathers, and non-gestational parents can also become depressed after the arrival of a child, and they should be on the lookout for the same symptoms that a birthing person would experience. 

Risk factors

While any parent can experience peripartum depression with the arrival of a new child, people with a personal or family history of depression (peripartum or otherwise) or other mood disorders are at increased risk. Other challenges, from financial or relationship stress to trouble breastfeeding or a lack of support, can also increase a person’s risk of developing peripartum depression. Whether or not any of these risk factors apply to you, it’s a good idea to watch out for symptoms of depression during and after your pregnancy. 

Prevention

Whether you’re dealing with a simple case of baby blues that will resolve on its own, or a major depressive episode that requires therapy or medication, make sure you communicate with your healthcare provider about how you are feeling during and after your pregnancy. If possible, line up support for the weeks following birth to help you eat, sleep, and otherwise meet your own needs. Becoming a parent is a monumental transition, and while it’s easy to fill your days taking care of your new child, healthy parenting includes taking care of yourself and asking for help when you need it. 

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Marie Holmes
Marie Holmes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Marie Holmes is New York City-based freelance writer. Her work has appeared in Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, the The…
The top cowboy and Western baby names that are riding high
Here’s some inspiration when naming baby if you’re a fan of all things Western
Baby boy wearing a blue knitted cap

There's so much to be excited about when it comes to having a baby, but parents-to-be often spend quite a bit of time agonizing over the perfect name. There is a lot of pressure to choose the ideal name for your little one, which may be why Western baby names are riding back to the forefront.

Namerology creator Lauren Wattenberg is all about names and predicts cowboy baby names will definitely be something to climb in the saddle for in the coming years. Wattenberg feels shows like the popular Western drama Yellowstone have brought cowboy names in from the range. Of course, Western baby names have never really ridden into the sunset. Dakota is a gender-neutral Western baby name that became prevalent in the 90s.

Read more
These foods that fight nausea during pregnancy are lifesavers
Try these foods to help you combat that sick feeling
Pregnant woman not feeling well

Morning sickness is a common symptom many pregnant women experience. The name implies that the overwhelming feeling of nausea only happens in the morning, which isn't necessarily true. Morning sickness can happen at any time throughout the day or night. Sometimes, it's also accompanied by vomiting. That nauseous feeling typically starts around the nine-week mark and lasts for the first three months.

For some women, morning sickness begins to wane at the back end of the first trimester. For others, though, it can last much longer, with many moms-to-be dealing with nausea and vomiting throughout the whole pregnancy. Of course, that horrible nauseousness can keep women from doing the things they want and need to do during the day. Thankfully, there are foods that fight nausea during pregnancy that can help keep morning sickness on the back burner. If you're combatting morning sickness, give these foods a try.
Foods that fight nausea during pregnancy

Read more
Is it common to have pregnancy second trimester headaches?
How to tell if this common ailment is safe during pregnancy
Woman laying down with headache

Pregnancy can be amazing and frustrating. It’s the critical time that mom forms the bond between herself and her baby. However, symptoms and side effects of growing a human being can cause a fair amount of discomfort. Whether the cause is stress, injury, surging hormones, or slight dehydration, expecting moms are bound to experience at least one or two headaches throughout their pregnancy, leaving many to wonder if it's common to have pregnancy second-trimester headaches.

Triggered headaches are common in pregnancy, especially during the first trimester when pregnancy hormones double and triple. But what about later-trimester headaches? Could they just be a passing issue due to stress or hormone imbalance? Or could they be a sign of something more serious? Let’s look at what the experts say to ease the minds of troubled moms looking for aid.
What is a headache, anyway?

Read more