The baby blues

Lean on the people who love and support you, they will be happy to help and you won't feel like you have to cope alone.

Having a baby is a major event–it's hardly surprising that you feel emotional, maybe even sad and depressed, after the birth. We have some advice on how to deal with the baby blues, and to help ensure that they don't develop into something more serious.

The first days after having a baby are supposed to be filled with feelings of love, happiness and joy. But for some women, giving birth often has a different effect, and leads to feelings of sadness and unhappiness.

About 70-80% of new mothers feel sad shortly after giving birth. These feelings are known as postpartum blues or "baby blues."

Q How do I know if I have post-partum blues?
A If you're feeling down or sad after giving birth, it may be a signal of postpartum blues. Some new mothers cry a lot, lose their appetite, have a hard time concentrating, have no energy or motivation, or have problems sleeping. Usually, symptoms like these will fade after a few hours or days. But, if they last longer than a couple of weeks, call your doctor and tell him or her what you're going through. Having feelings of sadness for more than a couple of weeks may be a symptom of a more serious condition of baby blues known as postpartum depression. Postpartum depression affects about 10% of new mothers.

Postpartum depression requires treatment. For some new mothers, just talking with a counselor or other new mothers in a support group can help. Your doctor may also prescribe an antidepressant medication. If you're breastfeeding your baby, be sure to talk with your doctor about any side effects of the medication.

Q But I'm supposed to be happy now, what caused me to feel this way?
A There may be many reasons to explain why you're feeling sad or unhappy. There are theories that the drastic changes in your body's hormones during pregnancy and right after birth cause chemical changes in the brain that lead to depression. Some research also points to the possibility that women who have a family history of depression or bipolar disorder are more likely than others to get depressed after giving birth.

The bottom line is that no one can know for sure what caused your feelings of sadness. The good news, however, is that there are ways to treat your problem and for you to cope in the meantime.

Q So what do I do to cope with my "blue" feelings?
A Dealing with feelings of sadness at a time when everyone around you thinks you should be at your happiest point can be difficult. It's up to you, though, to make sure you do the right things to get yourself back on track as quickly as possible. Make the following steps a priority as you face each day:

• Don't take on too much Don't pressure yourself to do everything for the baby and around the house. Ask your partner or family and friends to pitch in when you need them. And if you think there's more to be done, scale back your expectations of what makes a "perfect" house. Just do what you can and leave whatever is left until later.
• Put your health at the top of the list Get as much rest as you can. Of course, most new moms complain of not getting enough sleep, but for moms coping with postpartum blues, rest is essential. Try to take naps when the baby naps. Also, try to get regular exercise. Taking the baby for walks in the stroller every day is terrific exercise and a change of scenery can help relieve stress and improve your moods, too. And don't forget to eat foods that are healthy, such as plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. And even more importantly, avoid drinking alcohol as a way to feel better.
• Spend time with people who love and support you Talk with your partner, family and friends about how you're feeling and ask them to join you on an errand or outing. Sometimes, just having others to talk to–about anything–can be a tremendous help.
• Do something fun each day Pick something that makes you happy and make time in your day to do it. Even if you don't have a specific hobby, it could be as simple as watching your favorite television show or movie, or playing your favorite music and dancing around the house!
• Keep your doctor in the loop Your doctor can be one of your best tools to feeling better. Make sure you call your doctor early on if you don't seem to be bouncing back to your normal moods. If you are taking an antidepressant and have problems with the medication your doctor prescribed, let him or her know so a change can be made.