On the @lamaisondesmaternelles Instagram account, midwife Anna Roy reiterates an essential point: baby blues and postpartum depression are not the same thing. The first is transitory; the second persists, impacts daily life and needs to be taken seriously.
Duration, intensity, impact: what really changes
After giving birth, it is common to go through a few very emotionally charged days. The baby blues generally appear in the first days: easy crying, irritability, hypersensitivity, anxiety, fatigue, joy and fear all mixed together. The key point is its evolution: baby blues usually disappear in less than two weeksspontaneously.
Postpartum depression is not just about “stronger” baby blues. As Anna Roy explains, it is a
real depressive episode which can affect sleep, the relationship, self-confidence, the ability to feel pleasure and sometimes the relationship with the baby. She also emphasizes a frequent and very guilt-inducing situation: having the feeling that everything should be fine, because the baby was wanted or the birth went well, but not feeling well despite everything.
This discrepancy should not be interpreted as a failure. Having wanted your child, living in a happy couple or having had an uncomplicated birth does not necessarily protect against postpartum depression.
According to the 2021 National Perinatal Survey, 16.7% of women in mainland France presented, two months after childbirth, symptoms suggestive of postpartum depression assessed by the EPDS scale. This figure describes symptoms identified by questionnaire, not a clinical diagnosis made individually.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a 10-question self-report questionnaire designed to screen for depression during pregnancy and after childbirth.
To differentiate baby blues and postpartum depression, duration therefore matters a lot: signs that last more than 15 daysworsen or become invasive should lead you to talk to a healthcare professional.
Signs to ask for help
Postpartum depression doesn’t always just show up as sadness. In the video, Anna Roy cites several signals: overwhelming guilt, feeling of not being up to the task, massive anxiety around the baby, panic attacks, desire to isolate herself, permanent exhaustion, loss of pleasure, sleep or appetite problems, difficulty making decisions or creating a bond with her child.
Concretely, you should seek help if these signs
alter daily lifeprevent you from recovering, eating, sleeping, caring for yourself or your baby, or if they are accompanied by significant distress. It’s not about “holding on” in silence.
- Talking to a midwife, a general practitioner, a PMI, a psychologist, a psychiatrist or an association can be a first step;
- The EPDS can help identify a risk, but its score
is not a diagnosis on its own: it must above all lead to discussion with a professional; - The entourage can provide practical help : shopping, meals, laundry, time with the baby, sleep time.
Support depends on the situation. It can combine psychological support, psychotherapy, medical support, work stoppage, drug treatment or hospitalization in severe forms. These decisions are made with health professionals.
One point should never wait: suicidal thoughts. If they appear, seek help without waiting. 3114, the national suicide prevention number, is free and accessible 24/7. In case of immediate danger, you must call 15 or 112, or go to the emergency room.
The take-home message is simple: postpartum depression
is neither a lack of love nor a maternal failure. It is a disease that can be treated, provided it is identified and supported.