You just had a baby. You expected joy. Instead—or alongside it—you feel exhausted, tearful, anxious, maybe even detached. Is this normal new-parent overwhelm? Or something more?
Tracking helps answer that question.
Baby blues vs. postpartum depression
Baby blues affect up to 80% of new mothers. Symptoms include mood swings, crying spells, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping (beyond what the baby causes). They usually appear within 2-3 days of birth and resolve within two weeks.
Postpartum depression is more severe and persistent. It affects 11-18% of new parents—higher among low-income populations. Symptoms don't resolve on their own and often worsen without treatment.
The line between them: baby blues go away. Postpartum depression doesn't.
What postpartum depression looks like
- Persistent sadness or emptiness
- Severe mood swings
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Difficulty bonding with the baby
- Feeling like a bad mother
- Overwhelming fatigue
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Intense anxiety or panic attacks
- Thoughts of harming yourself or the baby
- Difficulty sleeping even when the baby sleeps
These symptoms typically appear within the first few weeks after birth, but can develop anytime in the first year.
Postpartum anxiety is also common and can occur alone or alongside depression. Racing thoughts, constant worry about the baby, physical symptoms like racing heart—these warrant attention too.
The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS)
The EPDS is the most widely used screening tool for postpartum depression. It's specifically designed for the postpartum period, accounting for physical symptoms that might be normal after childbirth (like fatigue) rather than treating them as depression markers.
It's 10 questions about how you've felt in the past 7 days. Scores range from 0-30.
Score interpretation:
- 0-9: Lower likelihood of depression
- 10-12: Possible depression; worth monitoring
- 13+: Likely depression; professional evaluation recommended
- Any score on question 10 (thoughts of self-harm): Requires immediate attention
When to screen
Medical guidelines recommend screening at:
- Initial prenatal visit (perinatal depression can start before birth)
- Later in pregnancy
- Postpartum visits (typically 4-6 weeks)
- Pediatric visits at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months
If your provider doesn't screen you, you can track yourself. Many women who develop postpartum depression aren't identified because screening doesn't happen consistently.
How to track
Start early. Take the EPDS within the first two weeks after birth—even if you're in the thick of baby blues. This gives you a baseline.
Repeat at 2 weeks. If baby blues, scores should be improving. If postpartum depression, they won't be.
Monthly for the first 6 months. Postpartum depression can develop anytime in the first year. Regular tracking catches late-onset cases.
Also note:
- Sleep (beyond normal newborn disruption)
- Bonding with baby (does it feel connected or detached?)
- Support level (partner, family, friends)
- Anxiety symptoms
What your data shows
Baby blues pattern: High scores in the first few days, declining by week 2, minimal by week 4. The hormonal crash is resolving.
Postpartum depression pattern: Scores stay elevated past 2 weeks. May climb instead of falling. Week 6 looks like week 1.
Late onset: Initial scores were fine. Month 3 or 4, they spike. This happens and is still postpartum depression.
Mixed presentation: Depression and anxiety both elevated. The DASS-21 captures both if you want to track anxiety separately.
Risk factors
Some factors increase postpartum depression risk:
- History of depression or anxiety
- Depression during pregnancy
- Lack of social support
- Stressful life events during pregnancy or after birth
- Traumatic birth experience
- Baby with health problems
- Financial stress
- Unplanned pregnancy
- Difficulty breastfeeding (when desired)
Having risk factors doesn't mean you'll develop postpartum depression, but tracking is especially important if they apply.
Why tracking matters for new parents
You're exhausted. It's hard to assess your own mental state when you haven't slept properly in weeks. A standardized questionnaire cuts through the fog.
Normal feels abnormal. The postpartum period is disorienting. Tracking gives you objective data instead of trying to judge from inside the chaos.
It can develop gradually. You might not notice the slide into depression when each day is survival mode. Monthly scores show the trajectory.
It affects the baby too. Untreated postpartum depression impacts bonding and child development. Early identification and treatment matter for both of you.
Treatment works
Postpartum depression is treatable. Options include:
- Therapy (especially CBT and interpersonal therapy)
- Support groups
- Medication (many antidepressants are safe while breastfeeding)
- Light therapy
- Exercise
- Nutritional support
Without treatment, postpartum depression can persist for months or years. With treatment, most people improve significantly.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists emphasizes that screening alone isn't enough—follow-up and treatment are essential. If you screen positive, getting help matters.
When to get help immediately
Some symptoms require urgent attention:
- Thoughts of harming yourself
- Thoughts of harming your baby
- Feeling disconnected from reality
- Inability to care for yourself or the baby
- Severe panic attacks
If you experience these, contact your healthcare provider immediately, go to an emergency room, or call 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).
Partner and family tracking
Postpartum depression doesn't only affect the birthing parent. Partners can also experience depression after a baby arrives. The stress, sleep deprivation, and relationship changes affect everyone.
If you're a partner, tracking your own mental health during this period is worthwhile. The PHQ-9 (see what your PHQ-9 score means) or DASS-21 (see what your DASS-21 score means) work well for this.
Getting started
1. Take the EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) within the first 2 weeks after birth.
2. Repeat at 2 weeks. Compare to initial score. Baby blues should be lifting.
3. Monthly through 6 months. Watch for late-onset patterns.
4. Share with your provider. Bring your scores to postpartum and pediatric visits.
5. Don't wait to act. If scores hit 13+ or aren't improving, seek evaluation sooner rather than later.
The postpartum period is hard for everyone. But hard and depressed aren't the same thing. Tracking helps you tell the difference—and get help if you need it.
Related guides
- How to track mental health over time — General principles for tracking
- What your EPDS score means — Understanding Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale results
- Tracking mental health while caregiving — When caring for others affects your health
- Tracking recovery from burnout — Sleep deprivation and exhaustion patterns