Crying for No Reason After Having a Baby

March 08, 2022 Post a Comment

The Babe Blues

Medically Reviewed by Jennifer Wu, M.D., F.A.C.O.G.

on Apr 26, 2021

Yous probably waited a long time to become a parent and may have thought y'all'd exist thrilled one time your babe arrived. Only if yous're feeling kind of sad instead, know that you're not alone.

It'southward the best of times; it'due south the worst of times. Nope — this isn't just a famous line from Charles Dickens — it's besides how up to 80 percent of new moms feel for a few days or weeks later childbirth. These feelings are often called the "baby blues," perhaps considering they seem to appear (appropriately) out of the blue, bringing on unexpected feelings of sadness and irritability, bouts of crying, restlessness and feet.

Only these emotions also brand new moms feel bluish, as in downward in the dumps, and this mood can be especially disconcerting since having a baby is supposed to make y'all happy, not miserable (right?). Have heart, and know that while the babe blues aren't much fun, they're often quite temporary, which ways you'll presently be back to normal and set to face the day (and your babe!) with a grin.

What are the baby blues?

The babe blues, which are besides sometimes called the postpartum blues, are feelings of sadness that many women experience in the early on days later giving nativity. This blueish mood tends to kick in on solar day 2 or 3 postpartum and tin can last for a few weeks. But there's good news: Very oft, the baby blues become away on their own, without whatever special handling, intervention or medication.

What are the symptoms of the infant blues?

The symptoms of the baby blues may include ane or more of the post-obit:

Sadness, moodiness, feet
Crying spells
Loss of appetite
Trouble sleeping
Feeling overwhelmed by baby tasks
Irritability
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

What causes the baby blues?

It's really easy to sympathize why the baby blues can crop upward if you stride back and take an objective look at what's going on in your life, your trunk and with your emotions in the days later on you give birth. Hither'south what'southward happening:

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Changes in hormone levels. Estrogen and progesterone drop precipitously afterwards childbirth.
A tough delivery. A physically debilitating labor followed past an exhausting homecoming — all compounded past the round-the-clock demands of newborn intendance — can make any new mom feel overwhelmed.
Shock and guilt when you see your infant. You might exist struggling with mixed emotions about your new role as a parent.
Difficulties breastfeeding. Sore nipples, painful engorgement, latching issues and more can make the first few weeks postpartum incredibly challenging.
Stress in your relationship. You may wonder if your romantic life volition ever return to the mode it used to exist.

With such an overwhelming laundry list of challenges to confront (and don't even mention the laundry…which yous haven't started on!), it's no wonder you might be feeling a little down.

How are the babe blues unlike from postpartum low (PPD)?

To tell the difference between the babe blues and more than serious postpartum depression, check in with the severity of your feelings, and note how long they terminal.

The baby dejection: With the baby blues, you lot'll likely feel sad, worried and tired, but each of these will be on the mild side (equally in, you perk up after a nap, a walk or talking with a friend). And these bluish feelings tend to subside in two weeks without handling.
Postpartum depression:A instance of PPD is a possibility if your teary days stretch longer than 2 weeks or you feel extremely anxious or deeply depressed. PPD is a more serious mood disorder and intense in nature, which ways information technology requires treatment, often medication, therapy or a combination of the two, in guild to experience like your old self once again.

What are some ways to manage the baby blues?

Keep in listen that the babe blues will probable fade in the commencement 2 weeks as y'all conform to your new life and become more residuum. In the concurrently, here are some tips to help lift you out of a postpartum slump:

Lower the bar.Call back, you won't exist overwhelmed for long. Later a week or two, you're probable to feel much more comfortable in those parental shoes. For now, lower your expectations for yourself — and so lower them some more. Make this your mantra (even afterward you've get a parenting pro): There's no such thing as a perfect parent or a perfect baby.
Don't go it alone.Trying to deal with a crying newborn, that mountain of spit-upwardly-stained laundry and a sink total of dirty dishes all by yourself is beyond depressing, peculiarly if y'all add in the promise of some other sleepless night. The fix? Ask for support from your partner, female parent, sister or friends.
Treat yourself. Consider a picture show, a dinner appointment with your partner (fifty-fifty if y'all merely order in and low-cal some candles), a quick manicure or simply a long shower. Occasionally make yourself, and not baby care or housework, a priority. You deserve it!
Leave the house. It's amazing what a change of scenery and some fresh air can practise for your state of mind. Plan an outing at least in one case a day: Have your baby to the park or go for a walk exterior with friends (and, if your friends are as well new moms, yous tin can swap sob stories — and and so express joy!).
Snack the correct way.New moms are oft besides busy feeding their babies to feed themselves — a large no-no, since low blood sugar ship energy levels and moods plummeting. To stay on an even keel, keep good for you snacks handy (cheese sticks, veggies, fruit, cereal, trail mix).
Stay hydrated. New moms, specially those who breastfeed, need to proceed up their liquids. Stash a water bottle or flavored seltzer where y'all nurse, burp or rock your baby. Just ease upwards on alcohol, as it tin dry out you out, touch your mood and make you feel worse, plus drinking and baby care don't mix.
Weep — and laugh.If you need a skilful cry, go for it. But when you lot're done, turn on your favorite sitcom and laugh too. You know what they say: Laughter is the best medicine. Go online to find silly memes or TikToks or follow a hilarious Instagram handle for a fast chuckle any fourth dimension y'all need it.

Nevertheless blueish, no affair what you do? Go on on reminding yourself that you'll probable outgrow the baby blues inside a week or two — most moms practise — though if feelings of depression persist or worsen, make an appointment to speak with your practitioner virtually your symptoms.

When to talk to your physician about the baby blues

Screening for depression is part of your pregnancy and postpartum healthcare appointments, so your doc and your child's pediatrician should be checking in at regular intervals to assess your mood. Only you can — and should — talk with your dr. at whatever point, but especially if you lot're feeling downwardly.

Remember that y'all're not alone. Being a new parent is hard work and the babe blues are very common. Attain out for help and so you lot can experience amend fast.

From the What to Look editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author ofWhat to Look When You're Expecting. What to Await follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only apparent sources, such every bit peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and upwardly-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

What to Wait the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Postpartum Depression, November 2019.

American Academy of Pediatrics, Depression During & Afterwards Pregnancy: You Are Not Alone, December 2018.

Mayo Clinic, Postpartum Low, September 2018.

March of Dimes, Baby Blues Subsequently Pregnancy, February 2017.

National Plant of Mental Health, Perinatal Depression, 2021.