It is a paradox, but women who have just given birth feel an indescribable joy that shortly after gives way to an inexplicable feeling of sadness. It is a process known as Baby Blues or Maternity Blues. After the height of the baby's birth, difficult days come for most parents. It is a vital change and, despite having made a preparation prior to the arrival of the new member of the family, nothing is exactly the same as planned.
At this point in life, both before, during, and after childbirth, the woman goes through many biological changes. In addition, she must adapt to the new habits that motherhood entails, such as baby care, breastfeeding or the development of the mother-baby bond. All of these changes often lead to feelings of insecurity and worry which, along with time changes and lack of sleep, lead to Baby Blues.
Baby Blues, also known as postpartum dysphoria, is an emotional state of sadness that affects 70% of mothers and usually appears between the third and fifth day after delivery. Its symptoms are diverse and include frequent crying, sadness, irritability, excessive concern about the baby's condition, continued tiredness, difficulty concentrating, and even anxiety. It is common in mothers the first days after delivery, but the symptoms usually disappear in a couple of weeks without the need for treatment.
However, in about a quarter of women these symptoms do not go away and, in some cases, they get worse and more intense. If this happens, you should see a doctor to rule out the presence of postpartum depression. This is a disease that requires multidisciplinary and fully personalized treatment by various professionals. This treatment combines psychological therapy, focused on cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy, together with the administration of drugs. Drug treatment creates rejection among patients for fear of the side effects it may have on the baby. However, data collected during the last 30 years indicate that they are safe and can be used during lactation.
Postpartum depression should be treated as soon as possible to try to prevent it from becoming a serious health problem. Most of the symptoms are similar to those of Maternity Blues, but more intense: depressed mood most of the time, decreased ability to enjoy, altered appetite, changes in sleep pattern, and lack of energy. Also anxiety and decreased ability to concentrate. In addition, there are many mood swings and a constant tendency to cry, feelings of guilt, irritability, great concern for the baby's condition and difficulty bonding with the baby.
