Understanding mental health
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The baby blues are common, mild mood changes that usually show up in the first days after birth and fade within about 2 weeks. Postpartum depression is stronger, lasts longer than 2 weeks, and can make daily tasks, like caring for yourself or your baby, hard to carry out. If you're not sure which you're dealing with, that's a good reason to talk with your doctor or a therapist, and perinatal and postpartum therapy is one place to get support.
We're Eye Cue Mental Health, a therapy practice with an office in Cerritos and telehealth across California. This guide explains the difference in plain language. It's meant to help you decide when to reach out, not to help you diagnose yourself. Only a clinician who knows your full picture can do that.
What are the baby blues?
The baby blues are short-lived mood changes that many new parents feel right after birth. Cleveland Clinic reports that the baby blues affect up to 3 in 4 people after delivery and are considered a normal experience.
They typically begin within a few days of delivery and tend to fade within a week or two on their own, according to Cleveland Clinic. The National Institute of Mental Health describes them as mild and short-lasting mood changes in the first 2 weeks after giving birth.
You might feel teary, moody, or overwhelmed, then fine an hour later. Rest, food, and help from people around you can make those first weeks easier.
What is postpartum depression?
Postpartum depression is depression that happens in the weeks and months after childbirth. NIMH explains that mood changes and feelings of anxiety or unhappiness that are severe or last longer than 2 weeks after childbirth may be signs of postpartum depression.
It's also common. The CDC reports that about 1 in 8 women with a recent live birth reported symptoms of postpartum depression.
NIMH lists symptoms that can include:
- A sad, hopeless, or empty mood that doesn't lift
- Irritability, guilt, or feeling worthless
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Fatigue, trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps, or changes in appetite
- Trouble bonding with your baby
- Doubting your ability to care for your baby
- Thoughts of death, harming yourself or the baby, or suicide
NIMH is also clear on one point that matters. A person is not to blame for perinatal depression. It isn't caused by anything you have or haven't done.
How can you tell baby blues from postpartum depression?
Timing, intensity, and how much it gets in the way are the main differences. This side-by-side summary draws on NIMH and Cleveland Clinic.
| Baby blues | Postpartum depression | |
|---|---|---|
| When it starts | Within a few days of birth | In the weeks or months after birth |
| How long it lasts | Usually fades within a week or two | Lasts longer than 2 weeks |
| How strong it feels | Mild, comes and goes | Severe or steady |
| Daily life | Day-to-day tasks still get done | Can make daily tasks, including caring for yourself or others, difficult |
If you're somewhere in between, or you just can't tell, don't wait to be sure. Call your OB, midwife, or primary doctor and describe what you're feeling.
What is postpartum psychosis and why is it an emergency?
Postpartum psychosis is a rare but serious condition that needs emergency care. NIMH describes it as a serious mental illness that can occur after childbirth, with symptoms such as delusions, hallucinations, mania, paranoia, and confusion. NIMH calls it a psychiatric emergency that requires hospitalization.
Cleveland Clinic reports that it affects about 1 in 1,000 people after delivery, that symptoms generally come on quickly and intensely, and that it requires emergency medical attention.
If you or someone you love shows these signs, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline right away. A scheduled therapy appointment is not the right first step for a crisis like this.
Who should you talk to first?
Start with your OB, midwife, or primary care doctor. They can talk through your symptoms with you and discuss treatment options, including whether medication makes sense for you. NIMH notes that perinatal depression can be treated with therapy, medication, or both.
Eye Cue Mental Health does not prescribe medication or recommend any specific drug. Questions about medication, including while breastfeeding, belong with your doctor. What we offer is talk therapy, and it can work alongside the care you get from your medical team. Our page on depression therapy explains how that works.
Two phone lines can also help:
- The Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 1-800-944-4773 offers support and local resources. It is not a crisis line.
- The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline, listed by the CDC, is free, confidential, and available 24/7 by call or text at 1-833-852-6262.
How does postpartum therapy work at Eye Cue Mental Health?
It starts with a phone call to 562-860-2891. We ask about your insurance and what you're carrying right now, then match you with a clinician whose schedule fits.
You can meet at our Cerritos office or by secure video anywhere in California, with the same therapist either way. Video can make sessions easier when leaving the house with a newborn feels like too much. If you're weighing the two, our guide to online therapy vs. in-person can help you choose.
We accept Medi-Cal, Medicare, Covered California and most major commercial plans. Whether your plan covers perinatal therapy depends on your plan and medical necessity, and we verify your benefits before your first session.
Eye Cue Mental Health is a psychotherapy practice and does not prescribe medication or provide medical care. This article is educational and is not a diagnosis or a substitute for care from your doctor. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call or text 988 (Suicide and Crisis Lifeline) any time. If there is immediate danger, call 911.
