Baby blues: what postpartum blues feel like and how long they last

Baby blues, also called postpartum blues or postnatal blues, are the weepy, irritable, anxious days many mothers have in the first week after giving birth. KKH's doctors say they affect about two in three women and pass within a few days to a couple of weeks. The blues are not an illness, but low mood that lasts beyond two weeks needs a doctor.

What the baby blues feel like

KKH's obstetricians, writing for Families for Life, describe these feelings:

• irritable or frustrated, sometimes when your baby cries
• anxious about coping, and overwhelmed by life with a newborn
• worried about your baby's health even though your baby is fine
• unable to concentrate
• tired but unable to sleep when you get the chance
• tearful without knowing why

They say the blues are most common in first-time mothers and in mothers with little support. They think the cause is the hormone shift in the week after birth, along with coming down from the adrenaline high of the delivery.

How long postpartum blues last

Not long. Families for Life says the blues usually start in the first week and fade within a few days to a week. SingHealth gives a range of a few days to weeks, and KKH's confinement myths page puts it at about two weeks. NUH is a little more generous, describing a period of two to three weeks of baby blues after giving birth.

Where they agree is the line to watch. Families for Life, SingHealth and the NHS all treat two weeks as the point to get checked if the low mood is still there.

Baby blues or postnatal depression?

The difference is how long it lasts and how much it gets in your way. Dr Cornelia Chee, who heads NUH's Department of Psychological Medicine, says in an article published by SGH that mild symptoms lasting less than two weeks do not need help, but symptoms that persist beyond two weeks and affect your daily activities do. SingHealth says blues that last more than two weeks are likely to be postnatal depression.

Mayo Clinic notes that postpartum depression can look like the blues at first, but its symptoms are more intense and last longer. Families for Life puts postnatal depression at one in 10 women who have recently delivered.

A much rarer illness, postpartum psychosis, needs urgent care. SingHealth says the most severe form affects about 0.1% of women and usually appears within the first two weeks. Families for Life names a warning sign: a sudden swing from low to euphoric, sometimes with delusions or hearing voices. Our guide to postpartum psychosis explains what to do.

What helps in the first two weeks

Rest and people. Families for Life says the blues alone do not need a doctor, and that rest, support, encouragement and reassurance from family and friends help you feel better. SingHealth agrees that most mothers with the blues do not need medical attention.

Let someone else take a feed or handle the visitors so you can sleep. If you have family or a confinement nanny at home during confinement, tell them how you feel. HealthHub's postnatal depression check gives the same advice to mothers who are coping but stretched: reach out to close family and friends so you get time to rest.

Low mood that is still there at two weeks, or that frightens you, should not wait for your 6-week postnatal review.

Frequently asked questions

How long do baby blues last?

Usually a few days to a week. Families for Life says the blues fade within the week for most mothers. If your low mood lasts longer than two weeks, see your doctor.

Is it normal to cry every day after giving birth?

In the first week, yes. Families for Life lists being tearful without knowing why as a common sign of the baby blues. Crying that goes on past two weeks, or comes with hopelessness, needs a doctor.

What is the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression?

Time and weight. The blues are mild and settle within about two weeks. Postpartum depression lasts longer, feels heavier and, Families for Life says, does not go away without medical help.

Do baby blues need treatment?

No. Families for Life says the blues are not considered an illness and do not affect your ability to care for your baby. Rest and support are enough, unless the feelings last beyond two weeks.

Related terms

• Postnatal Depression: A common, treatable depression after birth that lasts beyond two weeks and gets in the way of daily life.
• Confinement (Zuo Yue Zi): The traditional rest period after birth, 30 to 44 days depending on community, with food rules and extra help at home.
• Confinement Nanny: A helper hired for the weeks after birth who cooks, cares for you and your newborn, and lets you rest.
• 6-Week Postnatal Review: Your own check-up with a doctor four to six weeks after birth, covering healing, mood, feeding and contraception.

See every term in the glossary