It's mental health awareness week and it’s time to really know the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression. Having a new baby has always been seen as a new exciting journey for parents. But like every other journey, this too has its ups and downs. The changes and adjustments in your life are diverse and the impact of the physical, emotional and relational changes varies from person to person.

What is Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum Depression, or Postnatal Depression is the onset of feelings of depression, anxiety after delivery of a new baby. More an 1 in 10 women have been diagnosed with Postpartum Depression in the United Kingdom. Postpartum Depression is also seen in fathers and partners, but it’s not very common.

Before we take a closer look at Postpartum Depression, it is important to understand the difference between baby blues and Postpartum Depression.

Mainly due to the changes in hormones that takes place in the body, many women tend to feel down and sad during the first few weeks after giving birth. This is generally known as ‘Baby Blues’.

But, if these feelings of sadness, depression and anxiety persists for a longer period ( between 4 weeks to 12 months post delivery), going to a doctor and accessing mental health services is advised for a proper diagnosis of Postpartum Depression. It is not like you will wake up one day feeling sad and down. These feelings develop gradually and could go undetected for a long period of time.

What should I watch out for?

Symptoms of Postpartum Depression varies from person to person. Sometimes, you will feel like something is wrong, but find it difficult to pinpoint to it. Given below are a few common symptoms that you can look out for as outlined by the NHS:

• a persistent feeling of sadness and low mood
• lack of enjoyment and loss of interest in the wider world
• lack of energy and feeling tired all the time
• trouble sleeping at night and feeling sleepy during the day
• difficulty bonding with your baby
• withdrawing from contact with other people
• problems concentrating and making decisions
• frightening thoughts – for example, about hurting your baby

The first step to detecting Postpartum Depression is to create awareness and reduce the stigma around this common problem that a lot of women face. Taking  care of your own mental health is crucial in order to give your baby the best they deserve. Our Baby Buddy App has numerous videos, resources and support on how to manage your emotional and mental well being.

If you want more information about mental and emotional changes faced by women during their pregnancy period, you can read more about our Out of the Blue campaign or download the Baby Buddy App from the  Apple Store or Google Play for free or access it through the web version of the app.