Your recovery at home: Your emotions
You may have had a rush of feelings just after your baby was born that included joy, relief and amazement. Although you may still have these emotions at home, you may also start to feel overwhelmed, uncertain, frustrated or anxious.
Caring for an infant is hard work. It can be hard to adjust to the disorder a new baby brings to a household. Constantly focusing on your baby's needs can be exhausting.
Regardless of how prepared you were or how much you looked forward to caring for your baby, the first few weeks and months will include some lows as well as highs. Limiting other commitments and accepting all offers of help can make this time of adjustment easier.
Most women feel they have to make a major adjustment. Postpartum involves more than becoming comfortable with the role of mother. It is a time of great emotional and
physical changes, and changes in all of your important relationships. As a result, you may find some additional support helpful.
Postpartum 'baby blues'
When to Call 911
Call 911 right away if you:
- have extreme anxiety
- cannot sleep
- have trouble coping with your daily tasks
- feel confused or have poor judgment
- feel like harming yourself or your baby
- have bizarre thoughts or have hallucinations (see or hear things that don’t exist)
- feel as though you cannot cope.
More than half of all new mothers have a feeling of feeling down after giving birth. The "baby blues" occur during the first few days after birth, usually appearing on the
third or fourth day. They are usually over by two weeks postpartum.
You may feel tearful, impatient, irritable, restless or anxious. These periods are fairly short and don't last all day. The feelings come and then go away by themselves. You may also feel extremely fatigued due to a lack of sleep. Getting a nap can make you feel better.
Postpartum depression
Many new mothers experience various degrees of postpartum depression. This often appears around the fourth week after birth. It can also begin just before your period returns, after weaning or anytime in the first year.
Symptoms can be mild or so distressing that you can feel like you're "going crazy." With depression you may have "good" days and "bad" days. However, unlike the "baby blues," these feelings don't go away by themselves. You need to get help and support.
Whether your symptoms are mild or severe, they are treatable. Talk with your health care provider about what you are feeling. Tell him or her if you have a history of
depression or have had postpartum depression before. For information about support groups call Allina Postpartum Depression Support at 612-863-4770.
With postpartum depression you may have one or several of these symptoms:
- nervousness, anxiety, panic
- sluggishness, fatigue, exhaustion
- sadness, depression, hopelessness
- eating and sleeping problems
- poor concentration, confusion, memory loss
- over-concern for your baby
- uncontrollable crying, irritability
- lack of interest in your baby
- feelings of guilt, inadequacy, worthlessness
- exaggerated highs and/or lows
- fear of harming your baby and/or yourself.
If you are wondering if you have "baby blues" or true depression, use the  postpartum depression worksheet.
Allina Mental Health Postpartum Depression Support Group - Minneapolis Postpartum Depression Support Group - West St. Paul Allina Pregnancy Care
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