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For parents · first year

Baby blues or postpartum depression?

Checked against current guidance on October 8, 2026. General information, not medical advice.

Illustration of a tired mother with tea, her partner holding the baby beside her.

Where to get help now

If you have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, call your local emergency number now. In the US, call or text 988 or call 1-833-852-6262. In the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans on 116 123. Elsewhere, find a free helpline at findahelpline.com.13111213

The 10-second answer

  • Feeling tearful, anxious or up and down in the first 2 weeks is common: these are the baby blues.1234
  • If low mood, anxiety or a loss of joy lasts more than 2 weeks, or starts later, it may be postpartum depression. It is common and treatable.235
  • Fathers and partners can get it too.2610
  • Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby are an emergency: call your local emergency number now.123

General information from published guidance, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you are worried about how you feel, talk to your doctor, midwife or a helpline. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.

Signs to look out for, and what to do

Common signs, and what the guidance says to do

Usually normal

Feeling teary and up and down in the first 2 weeks is typical of the baby blues, which usually pass by themselves. Rest when you can, accept help, and talk about how you feel.124

Guidance: get medical help today

Feeling this way for more than 2 weeks is a common sign of postpartum depression. Contact your doctor, midwife or nurse today: don't wait for your next check-up. Treatment works, and the sooner, the better.123

Guidance: get medical help today

Anxiety after birth is as common as depression, and very treatable. Contact your doctor or midwife today.49

Guidance: get medical help today

This can be a sign of postpartum depression. Please contact your doctor or midwife today.23

Guidance: get medical help today

Unwanted, upsetting thoughts are common in new parents and don't mean you will act on them, but you deserve support. Tell your doctor or midwife today. If the thoughts start to feel right or real, or you feel you might act on them, call your local emergency number now.8937

Guidance: call emergency services now

This can be postpartum psychosis, a rare medical emergency that can get worse quickly. Call your local emergency number or go to an emergency department now, and have another adult stay with you and your baby.37

Guidance: call emergency services now

Call your local emergency number now, or go to an emergency department. You can also talk to someone right now: in the US, call or text 988, or call the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262; in the UK and Ireland, call Samaritans free on 116 123; in Canada, call or text 988; in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Elsewhere, find a free helpline at findahelpline.com. You are not alone, and help works.131112131415

Small things that help

  1. Step 1 of 5

    Share the nights

    Take turns with your partner or a helper so each of you gets one longer stretch of sleep.6

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Say yes to help

    Let people bring food, hold the baby while you shower, or take a walk with the stroller.246

  3. Step 3 of 5

    Get outside

    A short walk each day can help your mood, even a few minutes with the stroller.2

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Talk to someone

    A partner, a friend, a parent group or a helpline. Talking about how you feel really does help.2

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Tell a professional

    Your doctor, midwife or nurse asks about mood at check-ups for a reason. Be honest: they can help.124

Share the journal so others can take over feeds without asking you. Open Ella

Get medical help now if

  • thoughts of harming yourself or your baby123
  • confusion, seeing or hearing things that aren't there, or not sleeping at all for days37

Contact your midwife, doctor or health visitor today if

  • low mood, anxiety or no joy for more than 2 weeks23
  • you can't sleep even when your baby sleeps23
  • you feel you can't look after yourself or your baby23

The details

Baby blues vs. postpartum depression

Up to 8 in 10 new mothers have the baby blues: tearfulness, mood swings and anxiety in the first days, usually gone by 2 weeks. Postpartum depression affects about 1 in 7 mothers and up to 1 in 10 fathers. It lasts longer, feels heavier, and can start any time in the first year.

1245610

Treatment works

Talking therapies, support groups and, when needed, medicines that are safe with breastfeeding all help. Most parents feel much better with treatment. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not failure.

12359

For partners

Watch for changes: withdrawal, constant worry, tearfulness or irritability. Take on night feeds where you can, protect sleep, and encourage a talk with the doctor. Look after your own mood too.

236

Questions parents ask

How long do baby blues last?

Usually up to 2 weeks after birth. If feelings last longer or get stronger, talk to your doctor or midwife.123

Can fathers get postpartum depression?

Yes. Up to 1 in 10 fathers have depression after a baby is born. The same help works.2610

When does postpartum depression start?

Often in the first weeks, but it can start any time in the first year after birth.125

Is it safe to take treatment while breastfeeding?

Many treatments, including some medicines, are safe while breastfeeding. Your doctor can help you choose.259

Ella

Share the load, really

With Ella, everyone who helps logs feeds and diapers in the same journal. Your partner can take the night shift without waking you to ask when the baby last ate.

Start a shared journalHow Ella tracks this

Sources

  1. ACOG: Postpartum depression
  2. NHS: Postnatal depression
  3. NIMH: Perinatal depression
  4. AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Understanding motherhood and mood: baby blues and beyond
  5. AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Postpartum depression and breastfeeding
  6. AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Perinatal depression in partners
  7. NHS: Postpartum psychosis
  8. Fairbrother N et al.: Postpartum thoughts of infant-related harm and OCD: relation to maternal physical aggression toward the infant (J Clin Psychiatry, 2022)
  9. AAP, HealthyChildren.org: Depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after birth: FAQs
  10. Paulson JF, Bazemore SD: Prenatal and postpartum depression in fathers (JAMA, 2010)
  11. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (US)
  12. HRSA: National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (US)
  13. Samaritans (UK and Ireland)
  14. 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (Canada)
  15. Lifeline Australia

Guidance can differ between countries. Where it does, we show both. Follow your own doctor or health service.

Checked against current guidance on October 8, 2026. General information, not medical advice. Written by the Ella team at Muchita AI from published guidance by the AAP, NHS, NICE, WHO and CDC, with AI-assisted drafting and translation checked against those sources by our team. These organisations have not reviewed or endorsed this page. General information, not a diagnosis or medical advice. If you are worried about how you feel, talk to your doctor, midwife or a helpline.

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