Baby blues: Knowing the condition

After delivery, many mothers experience a period of mild depression. This is called the baby blues. This period of depression can last from a few hours to a few days or even months. The intensity of the depression varies depending upon several factors like the mothers support network, overall health, temperament. The reason for baby blues could be emotional as well as physical.

After delivery, there are a number of hormonal changes occurring in the body. The pregnancy hormones give way to hormones which stimulate lactation. Changes in hormone levels could affect the brain and trigger depression. Moreover, new mothers feel tired and weary after delivery. This combined with the toll of constantly caring for a demanding baby, the stress imparted by other health conditions that the baby may have, feeding difficulties trigger depression.

Therefore, it is essential that the new mother gets help from family and friends so that she can get the rest she needs and prepare both mentally and physically to care for the baby. Baby blues can be treated by support, counseling and anti-depressant medications. In most women, the feelings of depression and apprehension go away within ten days. In some women, it may escalate to post partum depression.