The first week of motherhood is one of the most difficult, and many new mothers may not be prepared for the emotional challenges that come with it. Up to 80% of mums may experience the baby blues, which can come as a shock.
What are the baby blues?
The baby blues, also known as postpartum blues, refer to a short-term dip in mood after having a new baby. This usually shows up around 2 – 3 days after giving birth. Most mothers usually overcome this 'down’ period within a week or two, and get back to feeling like their normal selves again.
What causes the baby blues?
Changes in hormone levels
It’s believed that changes in hormone levels after having a baby can trigger the baby blues and leave mothers feeling unbalanced. Oestrogen levels alone drop by more than 100 times in the 3 days after giving birth. This, along with the many other chemical changes occurring in the body post birth can cause a temporary low point.
Stresses of parenthood
Apart from hormonal changes, the stresses of parenthood are significant. The responsibility of looking after a child, mastering breast or bottle feeds, constant waking through the night and a mother’s physical recovery are big things to overcome. It’s unsurprising that many women don’t feel themselves.
Symptoms of baby blues
How do you actually identify a case of baby blues? Here are some of the telltale symptoms.
Mood swings that may leave you feeling angry or sad for no reason
Feeling irritable or snappy
Feeling guilty that you’re not happy
Changes to your appetite
Spotting the signs of baby blues in new mothers
Many women don’t tell others about their feelings because they think they should be happy after having a baby. Often women struggle during the first few weeks in silence. Caregivers, friends and relatives can look out for these general indicators of the baby blues:
The person is quieter than usual
They don’t seem focused
They might not be too interested in their baby
They might be suddenly teary or upset
They might snap unnecessarily at someone
They refuse food
Remember, the baby blues are very common, so being proactive and paying attention to someone who has just given birth can help them overcome the condition.
Managing baby blues
The baby blues are temporary, so doctors do not usually treat the condition with any kind of medication. Instead, emotional support, counselling, and patience can help a new mum get through this period.
If you are suffering from the baby blues, here are some ways to cope:
Seek support from friends and family
Speak with a friend, or a counsellor
Seek help from family or friends for things such as cooking or housework. Consider a confinement nurse to help take care of your additional needs during your recovery and baby care post-partum
Ask your partner for help and support, especially during night feeds
A balanced diet is especially important during the postpartum recovery period. Eating the right food will help you feel better mentally and physically, even if your appetite may be poor.
Engaging a confinement nurse can help as well because they will prepare meals specifically designed to help you feel better. If not, focus on eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains.
Take a break and go out for some fresh air. An easy walk can help too.
Book yourself a post-natal massage.
Remember, the baby blues are temporary, and you will start to feel better after a few weeks.
Postpartum Depression & Postpartum Psychosis
While the baby blues are temporary, there are times when things could be more serious than just a low mood. Postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis are much more serious conditions. The symptoms are easily confused, so it’s important to know the difference.
Postpartum depression is more severe and lasts longer than the baby blues. In some women, it appears during pregnancy and can linger for up to a year after birth. Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression won’t go away on its own. If it is allowed to progress, it can interfere with your ability to manage daily tasks and responsibilities, which includes caring for your baby. Counselling or treatment with anti-depressants can help in recovery.
Symptoms of postpartum depression
Feeling of hopelessness
Consistently low mood
Feeling like you can’t enjoy anything
No connection with your baby
Overwhelming stress and anxiety about your baby
Postpartum psychosis, also known as puerperal psychosis, is very rare. It is a severe mental illness and requires urgent treatment to prevent harm to you or your baby. Postpartum psychosis can develop very quickly, as early as a few hours after childbirth. It is more common in women with a history of mental illness. Most women recover completely from this condition with medical treatment.
Symptoms of postpartum psychosis
Desire to harm your baby or others
Taking care of yourself
The best way to beat the baby blues is to focus on taking care of yourself. It’s easy to devote all your time to your baby, but a little self-care goes a long way.
Enlist the support of family and friends as that can help a new mother feel better. And remember, if you or anyone you know is exhibiting signs of depression or mental illness, it’s important to seek medical attention from a doctor.
(24 Aug 2018) Feeling depressed after childbirth. Retrieved 26 July 2019 from https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/feeling-depressed-after-birth/
(19 Nov 2013) Baby Blues or Something More? What You Should Know About Postpartum Depression. Retrieved 26 July 2019 from https://www.healthline.com/health-news/mental-what-women-should-know-about-postpartum-depression-111913#1
(19 March 2019) Is it Postpartum Depression or Baby Blues? Retrieved 26 July 2019 from https://www.webmd.com/depression/postpartum-depression/postpartum-depression-baby-blues#2
(January 2018) The baby blues: what to expect. Retrieved 26 July 2019 from https://www.nct.org.uk/life-parent/how-you-might-be-feeling/baby-blues-what-expect
(1 September 2018) Postpartum depression. Retrieved 17 November 2021 from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617
Heart attack symptoms in women are often 'silent' but the consequences of not noticing them can be life threatening. Besides frequent heart screenings, knowing the signs can help prevent heart attacks.
Wiki ya kwanza ya kuwa mama ni mojawapo ya wiki ngumu zaidi, na huenda mama wengi wapya wasiwe tayari kukabiliana na matatizo ya kihisia-moyo yanayohusiana nayo. Zaidi ya asilimia 80 ya mama huona hisia za kuogopeshwa na mtoto wao, na hii ni jambo linaloweza kuwa na athari kubwa. Ni nini blues ya mtoto? "Kama vile ""baby blues"" au ""postpartum blues"" ni hali ya muda mfupi ya hisia baada ya kuzaa mtoto." Hii huonekana karibu siku mbili au tatu baada ya kuzaa. Kwa kawaida mama wengi hupona kipindi hiki cha 'kupungua' ndani ya juma moja au mbili, na kurudi kuhisi kama wao wenyewe. Ni nini husababisha huzuni ya mtoto? Mabadiliko katika viwango vya homoni Inaaminika kwamba mabadiliko katika viwango vya homoni baada ya kuwa na mtoto yanaweza kusababisha mtoto blues na kuondoka mama hisia unbalanced. Kiwango cha estrogen hupungua mara 100 katika siku tatu baada ya kujifungua. Hii, pamoja na mabadiliko mengine mengi ya kemikali yanayotokea mwilini baada ya kuzaliwa, yaweza kusababisha hali mbaya ya muda. Mkazo wa kuwa mzazi Mbali na mabadiliko ya homoni, mkazo wa kuwa mzazi ni mkubwa. Uwezo wa kumtunza mtoto, kuweza kumlisha kwa mama au chupa, kuamka daima usiku na kupona kimwili kwa mama ni mambo makubwa ya kushinda. Haishangazi kwamba wanawake wengi hawajioni kuwa wao wenyewe. Dalili za Baby Blues: Jinsi ya kutambua ugonjwa wa Baby Blues Hapa kuna baadhi ya dalili za kuashiria. Mabadiliko ya hisia ambayo yanaweza kukuacha ukihisi hasira au huzuni bila sababu, kuhisi hasira au hasira, kuhisi hatia kwa kuwa hauna furaha, mabadiliko ya hamu yako ya kula, kuona ishara za huzuni ya mtoto katika mama wapya, wanawake wengi hawawaambie wengine juu ya hisia zao kwa sababu wanafikiri wanapaswa kuwa na furaha baada ya kupata mtoto. Mara nyingi wanawake hupambana kwa ukimya katika majuma machache ya kwanza. "Wazazi, marafiki na watu wa ukoo wanaweza kuangalia kwa viashiria hivi vya jumla vya ""baby blues"" - mtu ni kimya kuliko kawaida, hawaonekani kuwa makini, huenda hawajali sana mtoto wao, huenda wakalia ghafla au kukasirika, huenda wakamshambulia mtu bila sababu, hukataa chakula, kumbuka, ""baby blues"" ni ya kawaida sana, kwa hivyo kuwa na bidii na kumjali mtu ambaye amezaa tu inaweza kuwasaidia kushinda hali hiyo." Kwa sababu ya hali ya mtoto wa bluu, madaktari hawawezi kumtibu kwa dawa. Badala yake, msaada wa kihisia-moyo, ushauri, na subira zaweza kumsaidia mama mpya kuvumilia kipindi hicho. Ikiwa una tatizo la kuugua, unaweza kutafuta msaada kutoka kwa marafiki au familia. Msaada wa msaidizi wa utunzaji wa mtoto wa kiume kwa ajili ya matibabu ya baada ya kujifungua na matibabu ya baada ya kujifungua: Msaada wa mpenzi wako kwa ajili ya matibabu ya baada ya kujifungua na matibabu ya baada ya kujifungua Kula vyakula vyenye afya ya akili na kimwili kunakusaidia kujisikia vizuri, hata kama hamu yako ya kula ni ndogo. Msaidizi wa mgonjwa wa kuuguza anaweza kukusaidia kwa sababu atakutayarisha chakula ambacho kimekusudiwa kukusaidia kujisikia vizuri. Ikiwa sivyo, jaribu kula matunda na mboga nyingi safi, nyama isiyo na mafuta, na nafaka nzima. Chukua mapumziko na kwenda nje kwa ajili ya hewa safi. Kutembea kwa urahisi kunaweza pia kusaidia. Jiandikishe kwa ajili ya misaada ya baada ya kujifungua. Kumbuka, maumivu ya mtoto ni ya muda tu, na utaanza kujisikia vizuri baada ya majuma machache. Ugonjwa wa akili baada ya kujifungua: Ingawa huzuni ya mtoto ni ya muda mfupi, kuna nyakati ambapo mambo yanaweza kuwa mabaya zaidi kuliko tu hali ya chini ya moyo. Mshuko wa moyo baada ya kujifungua na ugonjwa wa akili baada ya kujifungua ni magonjwa mazito zaidi. Dalili hizo huchanganyikiwa kwa urahisi, kwa hiyo ni muhimu kujua tofauti. Mshuko wa moyo baada ya kujifungua ni mkali zaidi na huendelea kwa muda mrefu kuliko huzuni ya mtoto. Katika wanawake fulani, huonekana wakati wa ujauzito na inaweza kudumu hadi mwaka mmoja baada ya kuzaliwa. Tofauti na ugonjwa wa kuugua baada ya kujifungua, ugonjwa wa kushuka moyo baada ya kujifungua haupotezi peke yake. Ikiwa unaruhusiwa kuendelea, inaweza kuingilia uwezo wako wa kusimamia kazi na majukumu ya kila siku, ambayo ni pamoja na kutunza mtoto wako. Ushauri au matibabu ya dawa za kupunguza mshuko wa moyo yaweza kusaidia kupona. Mtazamo wa postpartum ni hali ya kawaida ya kuogopa, kuogopa, na wasiwasi kuhusu mtoto wako, na pia huitwa postpartum psychosis. Ni ugonjwa wa akili mbaya na unahitaji matibabu ya haraka ili kuzuia madhara kwa wewe au mtoto wako. Ugonjwa wa akili baada ya kujifungua waweza kutokea upesi sana, saa chache tu baada ya kujifungua. Ni ya kawaida zaidi kwa wanawake walio na historia ya ugonjwa wa akili. Wanawake wengi hupona kabisa kutokana na hali hiyo kwa matibabu. Dalili za postpartum psychosis: Kutaka kumdhuru mtoto wako au wengine, kujilinda, na kujilinda: Njia bora ya kushinda ugonjwa wa mtoto ni kuzingatia kujilinda. Ni rahisi kujitolea wakati wako wote kwa mtoto wako, lakini kujitunza kidogo kunaweza kukusaidia sana. Msaada wa familia na marafiki unaweza kumsaidia mama mpya kujisikia vizuri. Na kumbuka, ikiwa wewe au mtu unayemjua anaonyesha dalili za kushuka moyo au ugonjwa wa akili, ni muhimu kutafuta matibabu kutoka kwa daktari. (Mwanzo 24:28) Kwa nini tunapaswa kuwa na huzuni baada ya kujifungua? "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Mwanamke na mtoto"" ya gazeti la ""The Guardian"" la Uingereza, ""Mwanamke na mtoto"" ni jina la kitabu cha ""Baby Blues"" kilichochapishwa mnamo Novemba 19, 2013." Nini Unapaswa Kujua Kuhusu Mshuko wa Moyo Baada ya Kuzaa "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Ugonjwa wa Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu ya Matibabu.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" ya ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" wa ""Mwanamke wa kwanza"" wa ""Mwanamke wa kwanza""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika ukurasa wa 26 wa ""Mwanzo wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu wa Uzoefu.""" "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya ""Ugonjwa wa Moyo"" ya Mayo Clinic, ""Ugonjwa wa Moyo"" ni dalili ya ""mshtuko wa moyo"" katika wanawake ambao mara nyingi ni ""kimya"" lakini matokeo ya kutoona inaweza kuwa hatari kwa maisha." Mbali na kufanya uchunguzi wa moyo mara kwa mara, kujua dalili za ugonjwa huo kunaweza kusaidia kuzuia mshtuko wa moyo.