POSTPARTUM BLUES

BY DR WANGARI KURIA
 Onset and duration
• The Postpartum blues can happen in the
days right after childbirth and normally go
away within a few days to a week
 EPIDEMIOLOGY
• Half to 2/3 of women who deliver normal
babies experience maternity blues

•Peak onset is on 3-4th postpartum day

 EPEDIMIOLOGY
Maternity Blues are more frequent
• Among primigravida
• It is not related to complications at the time of delivery or
use of anesthesia
• Women developing blues have often experienced
depressive symptoms in the last trimester of pregnancy
• Often have history of premenstrual tension.
• Both the frequency of the emotional changes and their
timing suggest that maternity Blues may be related to
readjustments in hormones after delivery. Progesterone
and estrogen increase greatly during late pregnancy and
fall after birth.
 Clinical features
The new mother presents with ;
• sudden mood swings
• sadness
• loss of appetite
• sleeping problems
Feels;
• irritable
• restless, anxious
• and lonely.
 Clinical features

• Lability of mood – (alterations between

euphoria and misery)
• Episodes of crying (may not be feeling
depressed)
• Patients complain that they are confused
but cognitive functions are normal
 TREATMENT
• Symptoms are not severe and
pharmacotherapy (treatment) isn’t needed
 pychoeduacation
But there are things the mother can do to
feel better can do to feel better.
• Nap when the baby does.
• Ask for help from your spouse, family
members, and friends.
• Join a support group of new mothers or
talk with other mothers
 CONCLUSION
Postpartum blues is short lasting condition
that does not require pharmacotherapy