Baby Blues is a real thing, and here’s what it’s all about:

You’re home. You have a brand new baby in your arms and you feel overwhelmed with love and joy. Birth is over and you can be home with your new family. However, within a day or two you start to feel low, scared, anxious, and then the tears come. You might cry for hours in the evening or cry at things that you weren’t even aware you could cry at. You start to doubt yourself. You start thinking you are losing your mind and “What will people think?” “How can I tell anyone?”.

Take some deep breaths mama bear, it’s ok, this is what’s known as baby blues. Baby blues is not just an old wives tale, it’s a real thing. Here’s what we know (Info gained from NCT website, who references NHS guidance and stats):

Around 80% of women who give birth will experience the baby blues. You are not alone and it is very common.

It is caused by a massive crash in a range of hormones in your body after giving birth, some of which decrease by 100 fold. Also, by huge changes in your environment. You are now a mom and have all these responsibilities you may not have had before.

The 5th day after giving birth is supposed to be around the peak of all these difficult feelings. You should notice it starts to get better after about 10-14 days.
At times you may feel completely out of control of your emotions; it may feel scary and might wonder what is happening to you. This is totally normal.

The best thing you can do is let your partner, family, friends and healthcare workers know that’s how you’re feeling so they can support you. Try to rest, ask for help and don’t panic. Try to accept that this is normal and you will be ok.

This is not postnatal depression or anxiety and it will more than likely pass. However, around 15%-20% (in reality probably much higher) of women continue to feel bad and sometimes worse weeks after this. If this is you, then please talk to your GP. You may need additional perinatal support and advice. Please do seek this. It is nothing to feel embarrassed about.

Becoming a parent is a wild emotional rollercoaster, one we cannot be prepared for until we experience it. How ever you feel, whatever you experience, know that you are not alone. No matter how bad it seems at the time, it will always get better, promise.

And, always ask for help. That is the only way to get the support you need.