Newborn Q&A | Questions about newborns

How long do the baby blues and postnatal depression last?

As common as the baby blues are, no new mother likes being reduced to a heap of puffy eyes, dirty hair and crumpled clothing. Attributed to exhaustion, heightened emotional state and massive shifts in hormones, this condition causes crying spells, insomnia, anxiety and poor concentration, amongst other unpleasant symptoms. The good news is that the baby blues will generally subside without treatment within two weeks of baby’s birth. Sleeping whenever baby sleeps, a healthy diet, regular exercise and support from friends and family is generally all it takes to alleviate the symptoms.

Postnatal depression, on the other hand, is a far more debilitating condition, hangs around for longer than the baby blues and is annoyingly tricky to treat. PND will respond to all the techniques adopted to fight the baby blues, but needs a more focused and determined approach. If you feel that you are not getting any better, speak to your doctor, because untreated postnatal depression can persist for years after your baby’s birth.