Why is maternal mental health important?

Getting recently a baby can trigger a lot of different feelings. Besides senses of happiness, love and satisfaction, the delivery can sometimes cause unpleasant feelings. You can feel bad, miserable and confused although there is no apparent reason. Even if it is an unpleasant experience you should know that this is a temporary state only.

Baby blues are a widespread state that affects new mothers in different ways. They are related to hormonal changes and new maternal experiences. Symptoms like nervousness and worries about the future are widespread. Other signs of baby blues are difficulty concentrating, sleeping problems, anxiety, excessive worries and restlessness. Baby blues appear a few days - typically within the first 4 days – after delivery and go away about 2 weeks later when the hormones are regulated. Persons with babies know that baby care can be hard and you have to be content with less sleep than usual. Less sleep may result in anger, weepiness, irritability and mood swings.

In relation to less sleep states like nervousness, crying, irritability and instability in your feelings can develop.

Although baby blues are more widespread than postpartum depression, they are less severe. 50%-85% of new mothers are affected by postpartum depression in the first weeks after delivery. Baby blues don’t require treatment, trigger mild symptoms and go away on their own within two weeks. However in women with previous mood disorder, baby blues may be a precursor. Therefore women whose symptoms don’t decrease in the first 12 days after delivery, should be monitored because of the severity of signs.