It’s Not Just the Baby Blues: Understanding Postpartum Depression and Your Recovery

The postpartum phase is one of the most physically and emotionally challenging periods in a person's life. If you are struggling, please know you are not alone. Thousands of others are looking for answers to the exact same feelings and physical challenges you are facing.

The Mental Health Reality Check
Let's suss the difference between "baby blues" and PPD with the facts:

Baby Blues is Common: Up to 80% of new mothers experience the "baby blues"—mood swings and weepiness that typically resolve on their own within two weeks [Postpartum Depression Org].

PPD is an Illness: Perinatal depression (PPD and anxiety) affects approximately 1 in 7 people during pregnancy or within the first year after childbirth [NCBI/StatPearls]. 

The Hidden Struggle: Shockingly, nearly 50% of mothers experiencing PPD are not diagnosed by a health professional [Postpartum Depression Org]. If you are searching for terms like Postpartum anger or struggling with constant worry, please seek help. You cannot heal what is not addressed.

Physical Recovery: Beyond the Six-Week Mark
While the mental health conversation is vital, the physical side of Postpartum care is intense, especially when dealing with the realities of C-section recovery or healing from a vaginal tear.

Paternal Depression: Recovery isn't just for mothers. Approximately 1 in 10 fathers or partners also experience paternal depression in the first year after birth [Better Health Channel]. Support systems matter for the whole family!

The Core Issue: Diastasis recti, which is the separation of the abdominal muscles. While there’s no hard universal statistic on its exact prevalence, its high search volume shows how common it is for new mothers to experience core weakness and seek safe physical therapy.

Your postpartum year is your time to heal. Prioritise your recovery—both physical and mental—as seriously as you prioritise caring for your baby.

As you know I'm not a mum yet, or any type of healthcare professional but I have tried by best to provide factually-backed information to some common questions.