Little people can be big on demands. Newborn babies keep their parents up around the clock as they try to juggle diapering, feeding, and rocking them to sleep. In many households, women bear the major share of these tasks, which leaves them feeling isolated and exhausted.
Adjusting to the realities of parenthood, many of them unexpected, is challenging, even for people with high resilience. Some of us struggle with it more due to various reasons, such as a lack of support or an underlying health concern.
While being worn out or overwhelmed as a new mom is not surprising, a consistent low mood must be checked out.
Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression Are Very Different
If you have discussed feelings of melancholy or tiredness with others, they may have told you: It’s just baby blues.
As per the American Pregnancy Association, around 70% of new mothers experience mood swings after childbirth. These are usually connected to hormonal changes in the body and can manifest as weepiness or irritation. Baby blues usually disappear within a couple of weeks after delivery.
However, what if your “low mood” does not seem to mitigate? What if you are constantly anxious and unable to bond with your baby? These signs could indicate postpartum depression, a much more serious concern that warrants intervention.
UNICEF notes that PPD can occur up to a year after the birth of your baby, appearing as persistent crying and feeling doubtful about your ability to care for the baby. It can affect anyone, although some studies indicate that maternal age, stress levels, and a history of mental disorders are potential risk factors.
If unchecked, PPD can bring on immense darkness in a woman’s life, dampening what she hoped would have been a beautiful period. A BBC story shares the experiences of some mothers who dealt with postpartum depression. One of them calls it a state of “joyless paralysis.” It leaves you feeling unable to enjoy pretty much anything, including your newborn.
The Problem of Being Patronizing
One struggle for many new moms who try to seek help is the blatant dismissal of their mental health concerns. Family members and even some medical professionals may tell you that your troubles are completely normal and expected.
The problem worsens when serious behavioral or mental health issues get dismissed or minimized.
A 2025 study in Frontiers in Health Services notes that many women face the brunt of patronizing behavior from medical professionals. Clinicians may interrupt a patient or attribute their symptoms to everyday stress or anxiety. There’s even a word for this: medical gaslighting.
For instance, problems like chronic pain are blatantly connected to hormonal swings or premenstrual syndrome. Mood disorders are equated to regular stress. It’s all in the head. This tendency also affects the timely diagnosis of serious mental health concerns and stops women from getting the help they need.
The patronizing attitude may even be behind the incidence of misconduct at some health facilities, with attendants assuming their ill-behavior will not be addressed or reprimanded. The Acadia Healthcare lawsuit against the Acadia behavioral facilities is unnerving proof of how medical practitioners may not always be trustworthy. Many patients report being assaulted and mistreated in these institutions.
TorHoerman Law notes that, besides the actual abuse, such incidents also cause emotional damage from not being disbelieved or even blamed when trying to find help.
In circumstances of distrust and being ignored, new moms feel confused and doubtful. They don’t find the support they require and are made to feel ridiculous for seeking it.
Life Before and After Getting Help for PPD
Thanks to medical advancements, multiple treatment and management routes are now available for postpartum depression.
A therapist may explore cognitive behavioral therapy to help you cope with your feelings. They may encourage you to take time out for yourself and engage in exercise or self-care. Over time, these interventions can help you deal with your emotions.
Your doctor may also recommend antidepressants, some of which are okay to use while breastfeeding. According to the CDC, some antidepressants for breastfeeding women have no effect on the infant who consumes the breast milk.
Consulting a medical practitioner is crucial for understanding the action plan for your specific situation. While some women may benefit from talk therapy and counseling, others with more severe issues may require medication.
In fact, ongoing pharmaceutical research is exploring connections between PPD, the body’s stress response, and neuroactive steroids. In the near future, we can hope for more pharmacological and therapeutic approaches to address PPD.
The Bottomline
Appropriate coping and management strategies can make a stunning difference to your mood as a new parent. They act from within, helping you reframe your self-talk and acknowledge that you are not your negative thoughts. Slowly, you will feel more capable of bonding with your baby and find confidence in your caliber as a parent.
The important thing is to recognize that PPD is more than just a low mood and needs expert help. Like other forms of depression, it can also be tackled, but not by minimizing or denying its presence.
Yasmin is a writer and mother of two young children. She is also the woman behind Two Mama Bears, a blog for parents with babies and toddlers.