A new baby brings a lot of change. Emotional changes after delivery are normal and sometimes called "baby blues."
About 4 in 5 new parents experience “baby blues.” “Baby blues” can start about 2-3 days after childbirth and can last up to 2 weeks. They usually go away on their own.
"Baby blues" signs include:
- Crying easily for no reason
- Having trouble eating and sleeping
- Being very worried about caring for your baby
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Having a short temper
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Postpartum depression or anxiety can happen to anyone.
- Depression or anxiety in the first year after pregnancy is very common.
- 1 in 5 postpartum women experience symptoms of depression.
- Postpartum depression affects 1 in 10 fathers.
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Call your health care provider if you have any of these feelings that get worse or last longer than 2 weeks:
- Feeling like a bad parent
- Not feeling connected to or interested in your baby
- Worrying a lot about your baby
- Anxiety or nervousness
- Sadness or crying a lot
- Mood swings
- Feeling overwhelmed
Call your health care provider right away or 988, if you have:
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Panic attacks - including rapid heart rate, trembling, or shortness of breath
- Fear that you cannot take care of your baby
- Unusual thinking, such as seeing or hearing things that are not there
Note: 988 is a suicide and crisis helpline — for people in distress.