During the first week after your baby’s birth you are very likely to have a day or two of “baby blues”. “You may feel unaccountably miserable, burst into tears for no reason, or feel suddenly irritable. This is normal — nearly all women go through it and it will soon pass. It is also normal to feel a bit “up and down” for a few months, and to feel anxious from time to time. You may worry that you are not a good enough mother, or that you don’t love your baby as much as you should. Don’t worry. Most women feel this way, and it will sort itself out as you get more confident.
However, a few women develop a more serious type of “baby blues”: post-partum depression. This condition may be triggered by the dramatic drop in hormones that follows childbirth. Some women react to this by sinking into a deep state of misery. This is not normal. If you feel so unhappy, lethargic, and irritable that you are not getting any pleasure from your new baby, talk to your health care provider or physician. Post-partum depression can be treated, and it is important for both you, and your baby, that it is.
Don’t forget to look after yourself! After a couple of months you should be feeling something like your old self again. Don’t concentrate so hard on taking care of your baby that you forget to take after yourself! Take plenty of rest, eat well, indulge yourself a little — it will do you both good in the long run.