The Baby Blues is a temporary and mild form of depression that some women experience after giving birth. It is characterized by feelings of sadness, mood swings, irritability, and crying spells. The Baby Blues usually begin a few days after childbirth and can last up to two weeks. It is a common and normal response to the hormonal changes and emotional challenges that come with having a baby.

Having a baby not only produces changes in your body during pregnancy. After childbirth, physiological and psychological changes often occur in women that are rarely talked about, known as the postpartum period.

The increase in estrogen and progesterone levels that occurs after childbirth can influence the woman's emotional state, leading to what is known as baby blues, which is the term used to refer to the emotional disturbance that occurs in a woman after giving birth.

Most of the time, postpartum depression is often mistakenly referred to as baby blues without distinguishing between the two, but baby blues are much milder than depression. In the following table, we can see the differences between the two:

Baby Blues Symptoms

• Sudden mood swings
• Sadness and anxiety
• Feeling of emptiness
• Difficulty sleeping
• Easily crying or sobbing
• Irritability
• Feelings of guilt
• Need for help
• Pessimistic thoughts
• Appetite changes
• Fatigue and lack of energy
• Headaches, digestive disorders, or chronic pain

You may experience some of these symptoms, but not all of them. Fortunately, they will disappear on their own in a few days, so be patient and remember that it is a normal experience that the vast majority of mothers go through.

Causes of Baby Blues

The main causes of baby blues are physiological. Hormonal changes after childbirth, as well as discomforts such as stitches, tiredness, pain, or discomfort, affect the mother emotionally. Also, the emotional changes caused by the milk coming in contribute to these feelings.

There are also psychological causes. The sudden change in daily habits and the expectations that the mother had about motherhood during pregnancy can trigger fear and insecurity. Adding to this the responsibility of caring for a baby 24 hours a day, household duties, caring for other children, constant visitors, or lack of sleep,

Tips to Avoid Baby Blues

The most recommended ways to minimize baby blues symptoms are:

• Try to sleep when the baby sleeps.
• Do not worry about household chores; delegate to others, your priority now is you and your baby.
• If you don't feel up to social commitments, postpone them.
• Do the same with visits if you don't feel up to it. Postpone or limit them. Establish schedules.
• Lean on your partner, family, and friends for support.
• Listen to the experiences of other women who have been mothers and have gone through a similar situation; it will help you have a more positive attitude.

But most importantly, remember that all of this will pass in a few days, and then you will fully enjoy your motherhood.