Your baby’s birth has set into motion great changes in your life and your body. Dramatic hormonal shifts occur when a body goes from pregnant to not pregnant in a manner of minutes. Add to this your new title (Mommy!) and the responsibilities that go with it and the blues are understandable. Today, Parents Ask expert Elizabeth Pantley, author of The No-Cry Solution series of books for parents offers these tips for dealing with baby blues:

Q:  How do I know if I have the baby blues?

A:  Every woman who experiences the baby blues does so in a different way. The most common symptoms include:
♣    Anxiety and nervousness
♣    Sadness or feelings of loss
♣    Stress and tension
♣    Impatience or a short temper
♣    Bouts of crying or tearfulness
♣    Mood swings
♣    Difficulty concentrating
♣    Trouble sleeping or excessive tiredness

Q:  How can I get rid of the blues?

A:  While typical baby blues are fairly brief and usually disappear on their own, you can do a few things to help yourself feel better and get through the next few emotional days or weeks:

Give yourself time.

Grant yourself permission to take the time you need to become a mother. Pregnancy lasts nine months, and your baby’s actual birth  is only a moment  but becoming a mother takes time.  Remind yourself that it’s okay (and necessary) for your baby to be your number-one priority.

Talk to someone who understands.

Talk to a relative or friend with young children about what you’re feeling. Someone who has experienced the baby blues can help you realize that they are temporary, and everything will be fine. (Plus, they can serve as a checkpoint to encourage you to seek help if needed.)

Reach out and get out. 

Simply getting out (if okayed by your health care provider) and connecting with people at large can go a long way toward reorienting your perspective. Bundle up the baby and change the scenery and head to the mall, the park, or a coffeehouse.

Join a support group.

Joining a support group, either in person or online, can help you sort through your feelings about new motherhood. Take care to choose a group that aligns with your core beliefs about parenting a baby.

Tell Daddy what he can do to help.

It’s very important that your spouse or partner be there for you right now. He may want to help you, but he may be unsure of how. Give him some gentle guidance and be thankful when he helps, even if he doesn’t quite get it right.

Accept help from others. 

Family and friends are often happy to help. When people say, “Let me know if I can do anything” they usually mean it. So, go ahead and ask kindly for what you want, whether it’s watching your baby so that you can nap or taking your older child to the park, let others give you a hand.

Get sleep.

Sleeplessness will enhance your feelings of sadness. So, take every opportunity to get some shuteye. Nap when the baby sleeps, go to bed early, and sleep in later in the morning if you can.

Don’t fret about perfection right now.

Household duties are not your top priority now. Remember that people are coming to see your baby, not your house, so enjoy sharing your baby with visitors without worrying about a little clutter or dust.

Take care of yourself.

Parenting a new baby is an enormous responsibility, but things will fall into place for you and everything will be easier given time. During this adjustment phase, try to do a few things for yourself. Simple joys like reading a book, painting your nails, going out to lunch with a friend can help you feel happier.

Love yourself.

You are amazing: You’ve become mother to a beautiful new baby. You’ve played a starring role in the production of an incredible miracle. Be proud of what you’ve accomplished, and take the time to know and enjoy the strong, multifaceted person you are becoming.

Could it be more than just the baby blues?
If you’re not sure whether you have the blues or something more ask your doctor or midwife, and don’t feel embarrassed: This is a question that health care providers hear often. If you’re feeling these symptoms to a degree that disrupts your normal level of function, if your baby is more than a few weeks old, or if you have additional symptoms, you may have postpartum depression. This requires immediate treatment. Please call a doctor or professional today. Do this for yourself and for your new baby.

See Also:
-How Should a New Mom Deal with Loneliness?

-Trying to Get Pregnant: How to Handle the Stress

-The Importance of "Me-Time"