Tips & advice · 4 min read
Baby blues? What to expect and what is normal
In the first days after birth you can feel emotional and tearful. Often that’s the baby blues: entirely normal and temporary. We explain what to expect.
What are the baby blues?
The baby blues are a temporary emotional dip that many new mums experience, usually around the third to fifth day after birth. You may feel tearful, sensitive, irritable or uncertain. This is linked to the major hormonal changes, tiredness and the huge adjustment that parenthood asks of you.
It passes on its own
The baby blues are not a condition and usually disappear on their own within one to two weeks. It helps to know that these feelings are allowed to be there and that you’re not the only one experiencing them.
What can help
- Rest where you can and be gentle with yourself.
- Share your feelings with your partner, family or midwife.
- Accept help with practical tasks.
- Seek some fresh air or a quiet moment for yourself.
When is it best to seek help?
Do the complaints last longer than two weeks, become more intense, or do you feel you’re losing your grip? Then it may be postnatal depression, which deserves professional support. Don’t hesitate to discuss this with your midwife or GP. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not of failure.