Postpartum Blues: Navigating Hormonal and Emotional Shifts

What causes baby blues?

The cause of baby blues is unclear and not fully understood. However, it is believed that both physiological and emotional changes contribute to the condition.

Hormonal and Physiological Changes

The most abundant hormone during pregnancy is progesterone. Early in pregnancy, progesterone helps develop the placenta, which, once developed, becomes the main producer of progesterone itself. Progesterone is crucial for nourishing the developing fetus and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. However, after birth, progesterone levels drop dramatically, which could contribute to the baby blues. Additionally, allopregnanolone, a metabolite of progesterone that decreases feelings of irritability, also decreases when progesterone levels drop after pregnancy. This leads many researchers to believe that the reduction in allopregnanolone contributes to increased irritability levels following pregnancy.

A physiological trade-off occurs in women immediately after delivery. The hormone estradiol, which supports lactation (the ability to breastfeed), decreases. Higher levels of estradiol naturally help regulate serotonin levels, which can reduce depressive symptoms. Therefore, when estradiol levels fall during the postpartum period, the body’s natural ability to regulate serotonin levels—and thus depression symptoms—is compromised. This hormonal chain of reactions is thought to contribute to feelings of sadness or even postpartum depression.

Considering postpartum baby blues from a purely physiological standpoint, two important hormones that support a healthy pregnancy—progesterone and estradiol—drop considerably right after birth. These hormones influence levels of irritability and depressive symptoms. It’s no wonder then that 70-80% of women experience feelings of irritability and sadness. Remember, these hormonal changes and shifts are a natural part of the transition from childbirth to postpartum and are necessary for a healthy recovery. Experiencing mood swings, crying spells, and feelings of sadness or slight disconnection are all normal responses to the changes occurring within our bodies during the postpartum period.

Emotional Changes

Adjusting to life with a newborn, whether it’s your first baby or you’re bringing your newborn home to siblings, involves significant changes. Your newborn is completely dependent on you, which can feel like an enormous responsibility. You are also getting to know your brand-new baby, and they are learning about the world around them for the very first time. They are not yet accustomed to all of the sights and sounds around them and rely on you and your support team for comfort and emotional regulation.

Oftentimes, new moms feel the burden of responsibility. They stay at home with their newborn all day yet feel like they aren’t ‘doing anything.’ Many women report that, although they are taking care of their baby, they feel bothered by the fact that they haven’t been able to wash the dishes piling up in the sink or finish a load of laundry. These tasks can accumulate, creating a sense of unease and unproductivity. Being pulled out of our normal routine and feeling too exhausted to complete our usual daily tasks can feel like a failure, but if you zoom out to the big picture, this is only a fraction of time. You are being productive. Taking care of your baby is the most important responsibility, and allowing yourself time to enjoy the bonding experience, as well as rest when your baby rests, is extremely important.

Another important factor that can contribute to the baby blues is a lack of sleep. Even without the adjustments of bringing home a newborn, lack of sleep is a known cause of lethargy, difficulty thinking, irritability, depression, anxiousness, stress, low motivation, and even paranoia. Getting as much sleep as you can after bringing home your newborn is a great way to help prevent the baby blues and postpartum depression.