@literatureandink the easiest answer is that baby blues typically only lasts about 4-6 weeks, and once you’re able to return to normal activity, you feel better. PPD lasts longer (and can start at any point during the year after birth), and tends to be “deeper” - as in it’s a true depression, rather than the melancholy that tends to follow immediately after birth. Both should be watched closely, but I feel like baby blues is more attributed to the actual adjustment of having a newborn than PPD is (at least it was in my experience)
@coaster102516 Thank you! I find charts like that to be so helpful. Not that you have to "tick off" all the boxes, but it gives a great idea of when to ask for help.
Some of my early warning signs are being more irritable, not wanting to do my hobbies, not doing my skin care routine every night, and other little things that show a pattern of losing interest in life. In addition to some of the more obvious depression symptoms, like crying more, not eating as much, etc. For me, the ppd lasted much longer than the baby blues, and was much more intense.
@literatureandink For me the baby blues only last a couple of weeks and are mostly a ton of crying, usually in the evening. PPD was more like feeling like a zombie. Disinterest and self blame mostly.
Re: GTKY - Pregnancy/Childbirth/Motherhood Fears
Natural BFP Feb 2017. DD born Oct. 2017
Natural BFP Aug. 2019, EDD April 2020
For me, the ppd lasted much longer than the baby blues, and was much more intense.