Having a baby is a HUGE life changing event that will bring up a lot of feelings. Some of these feelings will be expected, others a surprise. You can think of baby blues like other big life changes that might make someone overwhelmed at first, such as moving away from home for the first time, starting a new job, or having a giant project that needs to have a deadline. We have all had times when we needed space to have feelings. Having a baby is no different-- there will be lots of feelings. 

A few things that people can do if they experience overwhelm in the first few weeks are to:

• Talk about your feelings to people you can trust
• Try to keep your schedule calm (one thing a day is usually enough) 
• Rest your body and try to prioritize sleep (thank you cards can wait!)
• Keep a perspective on the fact that it's a big change and that it's normal to miss your old life. 
• Stay hydrated and well fed
• Be gentle with yourself, you will make mistakes. 

If you have a day or two that you feel low, or have tears that come once in a while, that is in the normal category. Depression and other mood disorders generally are longer lasting over many days or weeks, and get in the way of enjoying your baby and family. If you are not sure-- reach out to your provider.