--- title: "Baby blues, postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis" description: "How baby blues, depression and psychosis differ after a birth, with clear ways to get treatment and urgent support. Includes when to get help." url: "https://myruva.co/learn/baby-blues-postnatal-depression-and-psychosis" language: "en-GB" topic: "After a birth" published: "2026-10-18" updated: "2026-10-19" author: "Ruva team" reading_minutes: 4 --- # Baby blues, postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis How baby blues, depression and psychosis differ after a birth, with clear ways to get treatment and urgent support. Includes when to get help. *Written and reviewed by the Ruva team · Updated 2026-10-19 · After a birth* ## Key points - Baby blues usually ease within 2 weeks. If things get worse or you’re struggling to cope, get help sooner. - Fathers and partners can get postnatal depression too. - Postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency and needs to be checked straight away. - Talking therapies and medicines can help with postnatal depression. Feeling low after a birth can be part of the baby blues. But mood that keeps getting worse, struggling to cope, or suddenly losing touch with what’s real need different kinds of help. Baby blues, postnatal depression and postpartum psychosis are different conditions. ## When baby blues linger Feeling low, anxious or irritable for a few days after a birth is common. The NHS says baby blues usually settle within 2 weeks. If the feelings carry on, get worse or leave you struggling to cope, ask for help. You can contact someone before then. Tell someone what would help today. You could ask for company, help with a meal, or someone to take over a job around the house. You can ask for practical help as well as professional care. ## Depression can look like anxiety or disconnection Postnatal depression (called postpartum depression in the US) can bring low mood that doesn’t lift, loss of enjoyment, guilt, anxiety, irritability or trouble concentrating. Some people can’t sleep even when they get the chance. Others find it hard to feel close to their baby. Symptoms can start during pregnancy, soon after the birth, or up to a year afterwards. Fathers and partners can also get depression after a baby arrives. Ask for help even if only some of these signs sound familiar. In the UK, contact your GP, midwife or health visitor. In the US and elsewhere, contact your doctor or a mental health professional. They can ask how you’ve been feeling and talk about treatment. You could start with, “I’m finding it hard to cope, and it isn’t getting easier.” ## Treatment can fit around feeding and family life Treatment may include talking therapies, antidepressants or both. Many antidepressants can be taken while breastfeeding. Tell your doctor how you’re feeding your baby so they can suggest a suitable option. Don’t stop a prescribed medicine without talking to your doctor. A partner, relative or friend can help with appointments, childcare and jobs around the house. Ask the care team what support there is locally and how to contact them if things change. Someone close to you can share what they’ve noticed at an appointment. You can say how things feel to you too. ## Postpartum psychosis needs immediate help Postpartum psychosis often starts suddenly in the first 2 weeks after birth, though it can start later. Signs include hearing or seeing things that aren’t there, believing things that are unlikely to be true, severe confusion, a very high or overactive mood, or moods that change fast. The person affected may not realise they’re unwell. Get these symptoms checked straight away. In the UK, contact a GP straight away and ask to be seen the same day. If you can’t reach a GP, call NHS 111. If you already have a plan with a crisis team, use it. In the US, NIMH advises calling 911 or going to the nearest emergency department. Elsewhere, contact your emergency mental health service now. Don’t leave it until a planned postnatal appointment. This is a medical emergency. Hospital treatment is usually needed, and people do recover with the right care. A friend or relative may need to spot the signs and make the call. ## Crisis support and immediate danger Call 999 now in the UK, 911 in the US or your local emergency number if you can’t keep yourself or your baby safe. Don’t wait for a routine appointment or a listening service. If you have thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself or your baby, get urgent mental health help now. In England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. In the US, call or text 988. Elsewhere, use your local crisis service. Use emergency services if there’s immediate danger. In the UK, you can call Samaritans for free, day or night, on 116 123. In the US, the 988 Lifeline also gives you someone to talk to when you’re struggling. ## When to get help - **Emergency:** Call 999 now (UK) or 911 (US), or your local emergency number, if you can’t keep yourself or your baby safe. In the US, call 911 or go to an emergency department for signs of postpartum psychosis. - **Same day:** Contact your GP straight away or call NHS 111 (UK) for sudden confusion, seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, or unusual beliefs after a birth, and ask to be seen today. In the US, go to an emergency department. Elsewhere, contact your local emergency mental health service now. - **Book an appointment:** Contact your GP, midwife or health visitor (UK), or your doctor or a mental health professional (US and elsewhere), if low mood, anxiety or trouble bonding with your baby is carrying on or making it hard to cope. ## Where you live Services and advice differ between countries. - **UK:** For urgent mental health help in England, call NHS 111 and choose the mental health option. Use emergency services if you can’t keep someone safe. - **US:** NIMH advises emergency care for postpartum psychosis. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline gives crisis support. - **Elsewhere:** Elsewhere, use your local emergency service if there’s immediate danger. For mood symptoms, get checked soon through your doctor or maternity team. ## Sources 1. [Postnatal depression](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/postnatal-depression/), NHS 2. [Postpartum psychosis](https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-partum-psychosis/), NHS 3. [Perinatal Depression](https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/perinatal-depression), National Institute of Mental Health 4. [Where to get urgent help for mental health](https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/where-to-get-urgent-help-for-mental-health/), NHS 5. [Talk to us on the phone](https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/talk-us-phone/), Samaritans 6. [988 Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/), 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline --- This guide is general information to help you keep and use your own records. It isn’t medical advice. If you’re worried about a symptom, or something changes suddenly, talk to a doctor, nurse or pharmacist.