Throughout your pregnancy, and maybe even before you thought about being a mother, you had an expectation that having a baby would be a miraculous journey. Yet, instead of feeling like your life is complete, you just can’t shake those baby blues.
The thing no one told you was that you’re entitled to these feelings. Having a baby, especially in less-than-perfect circumstances, brings major changes, such as stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights. But if your emotions are severe enough that you can’t see the joy in your day anymore, you could have postpartum depression. This serious condition is more than the typical “baby blues” and needs professional treatment.
Whatever the reason for your feelings, understand that they are normal, and it doesn’t mean you’re not an amazing mother. However, you do want to feel better and start enjoying this new stage of your life. Here, we’ll review the “baby blues” timeline and suggest 5 ways you can take action to regain control of your emotions.
The Baby Blues Timeline
Yes, there’s a timeline! This is good news because it means your body and mind will eventually become “normal” again. If you’re dealing with emotions caused by childbirth and not postpartum depression, your hormones will shift back into place, your baby will begin to sleep for longer periods, and your stress will slowly become manageable.
You may start feeling those “baby blues” as early as 1-2 days after giving birth, but they can show up even a week after. This is likely due to extremely fluctuating hormones, the reality of having a child settling in, the euphoria of having a baby decreasing, and the lack of sleep taking effect. These symptoms, including weepiness, mood swings, irritability, detachment, and nostalgia for your old life, usually go away within about two weeks.
While this timeline isn’t perfect, it gives you an idea of where you’re at and what you might expect next. If your feelings last longer than 2-3 weeks and are severe, you may be dealing with postpartum depression.
5 Ways to Shake the Baby Blues
Technically, you don’t have to do anything to treat your emotions, as they should settle into place naturally once you get used to having a baby at home. But if you want to embrace your motherhood journey as early as possible, here are 5 things you can do to shake the baby blues quickly.
#1. Sleep
Yes, having a baby means losing a lot of sleep. But if you can nap when the baby naps, that will help you recover faster. You may need to skip washing dishes and handling other household chores for a couple of weeks, and that’s okay. You’ll feel like dealing with your responsibilities sooner if you let your body recover.
#2. Accept Help
No one can care for your baby like you can, but having help that you can trust will get you on your feet faster. Let your loved ones or best friends take the baby so you can take a shower or a quick cat nap. If giving up your child is a hard limit, find other ways to accept help, like asking someone else to go grocery shopping and do laundry or handle meal planning and preparing. Anything that removes a few responsibilities will make you feel less exhausted and stressed.
#3. Have Visitors — With Boundaries
Your child relies on you to keep them safe and healthy. You may have dozens of people who want to visit your brand-new bundle of joy, but you know how essential it is to protect your little one’s immune system. This shouldn’t mean that you keep everyone away, though. Allow the visitors who will boost your spirits to have access to your home and use safe practices around the newborn. You’ll get the laughter and TLC you need while still keeping your baby’s germ exposure reduced.
#4. Eat Healthily
Your body just went through a natural form of trauma. Don’t discount the need for nutrients to help it recover just because so many women go through childbirth. Eat healthily and regularly, and you will notice that the sleep you get is more restful, your mental clarity returns quicker, and you feel better overall.
#5. Go Outside
Fresh air is good for you and your baby. Cover yourself with sunscreen and make sure your little one’s skin isn’t overly exposed to the direct rays, then sit outside in nature (preferably in a quiet space) for 20-30 minutes each day.
Final Words
Keep in mind that having a baby shouldn’t be a complete disruption to your life. Yes, you’re a new person — you’re a mommy now! But your identity change doesn’t mean an identity shift. Slowly bring back the things you once enjoyed as you can handle them, and your mental health and your baby’s wellness will benefit from your choices.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.