09/29/2025
Happy Monday Mommas!
I hope everyone had a beautiful and safe weekend. 💛
Today’s topics: Postpartum depression, and when to seek help.
The term postpartum refers to the period of time after childbirth. It usually describes the first six weeks following delivery, but many professionals recognize the postpartum phase as lasting up to a year as the body and mind continue to recover and adjust.
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a mood disorder that can occur after childbirth. It goes beyond the typical “baby blues,” which are those short-lived feelings of sadness or worry in the first weeks after birth. PPD involves more intense and longer-lasting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, overwhelm, or disconnection, and it can affect a parent’s ability to care for themselves and their baby.
The baby blues often look like mood swings, irritability, sadness, trouble making decisions, appetite changes, weepiness, feeling like you just can’t cope, extreme fatigue, or even trouble sleeping. These feelings are usually temporary and tend to fade within a couple of weeks.
Postpartum depression, however, can feel much heavier. It often includes many of the same feelings as the baby blues but lasts longer and runs deeper. Some mothers feel hopeless, disconnected, or unable to find joy. Others experience racing thoughts, panic attacks, extreme crying, or fear of being alone with their baby. Sometimes there can be obsessive thoughts or overwhelming fears that something terrible might happen to the baby. It’s important to remember that these thoughts and feelings do not define you—they are signs that you need and deserve support.
Not every mom experiences postpartum challenges in the same way. Some may deal more with postpartum anxiety, where constant worry and racing thoughts feel impossible to shut off. Others may experience postpartum OCD, where intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors become overwhelming. In very rare cases, postpartum psychosis may occur, which can include hallucinations, delusions, or confusion. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate help.
So, when should you seek help? If your feelings last for two weeks or longer without improving, or if it feels like more than just the baby blues, that is the time to reach out. Call your OBGYN, talk with your partner, confide in your closest friend, or call a hotline. The most important thing to know is that you are never alone in this journey, even when it feels isolating.
There are also gentle things you can do to support yourself along the way. Give yourself permission to set realistic expectations—remember, no mother is perfect and mistakes are part of learning. Try to plan your days in small, simple ways so that you can celebrate even the little victories. Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s, because every postpartum path looks different. Allow yourself to ask for help when you need it. Reaching out is not a weakness—it is an act of strength and self-love. Nourish yourself with simple practices when you can, like a short walk, a few minutes of journaling, slow deep breaths, sipping calming tea, or just sitting in stillness to reset.
If you ever feel like you need immediate support, please know there are resources available. Postpartum Support International can be reached at 1-800-944-4773, and if you are in crisis, you can always dial 988 to connect with the Su***de & Crisis Lifeline.
Motherhood is a journey, not a test. 💕 You are worthy of rest, help, and healing. Asking for support is one of the bravest and most loving things you can do—for both yourself and your baby.
