As a baby blues (Postpartum Blues) refers to the psychic sensitivity that sets in many women a few days after birth. In these “howling days” mothers are usually exhausted, tired and suffer from mood swings. Read how baby blues come about and how to best handle them.
What is the Baby Blues?
The Baby Blues (Postpartum Blues) is a temporary mood low that occurs in the first three to five days after birth. Affected mothers tend to mood swings, are sad and / or exhausted and tired. Increased sensitivity and sensitivity also occur. Often mothers in the time of the baby blues break into tears for no apparent reason, which is why the days of baby blues are colloquially often called howling days.
Usually, the symptoms of the baby blues disappear on their own after a few days.
In various surveys, the information on how often Baby Blues occurs, from 25 to 80 percent. These differences arise because the symptoms are subjectively assessed. In addition, the applied criteria play a role: Some scientists count fatigue and sleep disorders to the symptoms of baby blues, others not.
Baby blues is sometimes considered a mental disorder. But there are also many experts who do not consider this temporary mood depression after birth as pathological, but as a normal conversion process and an important part of the training of a mother-child bond.
Baby blues: causes
The cause of the baby blues, according to the current state of knowledge of the strong hormone drop after birth: During pregnancy, the estrogen and progesterone levels are very high. After the birth and delivery of the nut cake, these levels fall off very quickly. Estrogen works in different places in the brain; Among other things, it stabilizes the mood and counteracts depression and psychosis. If this protection is removed, it comes to baby blues, so to moodiness, emotional lability and attacks of dejection. Such an effect is also observed in connection with menstruation and menopause.
The type of birth, the place and the duration do not affect whether it comes to a baby blues or not. However, the risk for a baby blues is increased if the birth does not take place as planned by the mother. For example, mothers who were planning to give birth outside the clinic but then had to go to a clinic often feel worthless after giving birth and more often suffer from a baby blues.
Psychosocial factors such as marital status or the mother’s life situation seem to have no influence on the occurrence of baby blues.
Baby blues: symptoms
Women with baby blues show a general increased sensitivity to external events: they are more irritable, react quickly emotionally (with tears of joy, for example) and tend to change mood quickly. Other possible signs of baby blues include:
- (exaggerated) worries about the baby and the future
- mournfulness
- Despondency (no depression)
- concentration problems
- Previously unknown aggressiveness
- Feelings of confusion
- Slight sleep and appetite disorders
How do I deal with a baby blues?
Baby blues has no disease value, so usually does not need to be treated. As a rule, the symptoms of the baby blues resolve on their own within a few days. It is good if, during this time, those affected have a close relationship with whom they can talk openly and who supports them in the care of the newborn. Rest and understanding of the woman’s feelings from her partner and other relatives are also helpful.
Many doctors also advise that mothers should spend a lot of time with their child during this time. Only in this way can a close bond be built up and the joy over the own child outweigh the negative emotions.
Can the baby blues become chronic?
In most cases, the symptoms of the baby blues resolve after a few days. If this is not the case, it may be the onset of postpartum depression or postpartum psychosis. So, if the mood swings persist for a long time, or if depressive or psychotic symptoms (such as loss of reality, hallucinations, etc.) develop, you should see a doctor.