Many different feelings come with being a new parent. They can range from happiness and joy to unexpected sadness and feeling overwhelmed. “Baby blues” are very common after giving birth. 

 About 75 per cent of new birthing parents experience baby blues. 

What are the baby blues? 

In the first few weeks after giving birth, many new birth parents have mood swings, worry a lot, cry easily and have trouble sleeping. This is often called the baby blues. Baby blues are normal and are caused by changing hormones and adjusting to parenting. Baby blues don’t last long.  These feelings usually begin a few days after birth and go away on their own within two weeks.  

With baby blues you may: 

• feel very tired 
• have mood swings, from feeling happy to feeling anxious, worried or panicky 
• cry for no reason 
• feel unsure about how to care for your baby 

Coping with baby blues 

• Be kind to yourself - this is a time of many changes (body, mind, routines).  
• People want to help. Don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help from friends and family. People can help you by bringing you a meal, doing your grocery shopping or cleaning your house. 
• See our article, Tips for Self Care 
• If you have concerns about how you are feeling, talk to your public health nurse, doctor, midwife, nursing station or health centre. 

You can support someone with baby blues by: 

• listening to how they are feeling 
• helping with household chores  
• taking care of baby and other children  
• making meals  

For more support you can call:

• Women’s Health Clinic, Mothering Program – 204-947-2422 ext. 113 
• Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba, PPD Warmline – 204-391-5983 
• Manitoba Farm and Rural Support Services toll free – 1-866-367-3276 

Reference: 

• Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba 

Becoming a new parent can be exciting and stressful. Everything is new and babies do not seem to come with an instruction manual. 

New routines, baby care and lack of sleep can make any new parent feel anxious. It is important to know that anxiety is common during pregnancy and after the birth of your baby. For some parents, pregnancy and the postpartum period can trigger anxiety. Anxiety can feel bad and interfere with how much you enjoy your new baby. 

Recognizing the signs can help you know if you are having anxiety. 

What is anxiety? 

Anxiety disorders are very common; one in four people will experience an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Anxiety is a common and normal reaction to a stressful situation. Anxiety is part of our survival instinct. It helps tell us if we are in danger and helps us focus on getting things done quickly. The nervousness usually goes away once the stressful situation is over. But if you are feeling anxious all the time, it could be an anxiety problem or disorder. 

Anxiety can occur at any time in a person’s life. New parents, caregivers and grandparents may experience anxiety at this time. 

How do I know if I have an anxiety disorder? 

Occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. For people with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as taking care of your baby and relationships. If you have been experiencing any of the following symptoms, talk to your health-care provider: 

There are several types of anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and various phobia-related disorders.It can be difficult to stop feeling fearful or worried. 

Reach out: Talk to your health-care provider if anxiety is taking up a lot of your time and energy or affecting your quality of life.  

Note: Some new parents will also experience postpartum depression (PPD), or have both at the same time. 

Where to get help 

• Your public health nurse, doctor, midwife, nursing station, health centre or other health-care provider.
  • Your doctor or health-care provider can refer you to a psychologist or counselor. 
  • If you do not have a doctor, visit the Family Doctor Finder – Province of Manitoba or call 204-786-7111 or toll-free 1-866-690-8260, TTY/TDD – 204-774-8618 or Manitoba Relay Services toll-free at 1-800-855-0511
• Check if you have coverage through your employee benefit plan at work. You may have some coverage for a psychologist. You may also have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that offers counseling. 

If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your unborn baby, or are in crisis, there is help available 24/7

• Suicide Crisis Helpline 9-8-8 
• Klinic Community Health Centre Crisis Line  – 204-786-8686 or toll-free  1-888-322-3019 
• Manitoba Suicide Line – toll-free 1-877-435-7170 
  • Visit the website A Reason to Live 
• First Nations and Inuit Hope for Wellness Helpline – toll-free  1-855-242-3310
  • Service is available in Cree, Ojibway, Inuktitut, English and French
• WRHA Mobile Crisis Service - 204-940-1781 
• 9-1-1 or your local emergency number 
• If you need more information and help finding resources call Health Links-Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or toll-free 1-888-315-9257 

Other online resources

• Postpartum Depression Association of Manitoba 
• Mental Health Resource Finder – Shared Health 
• Anxiety Canada  
• Pacific Postpartum Support Society  

References

• PPD Manitoba 
• WRHA Postpartum Depression 
• Get the Facts – Anxiety Disorders Association of Manitoba