Baby blues: what is normal, how long they last, and when to call
Tears on day four are not a bad sign. Here is how to tell the blues from something that needs care.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
The baby blues are mild, short mood swings that start about 3 to 4 days after birth, with tears, irritability and worry. They usually pass within 2 weeks without treatment. If low mood or anxiety lasts longer than 2 weeks, gets worse, or you are struggling to cope, call your midwife, GP or OB-GYN: it may be postpartum depression, which is treatable.
Is this normal? When to call
Normal: crying easily, feeling irritable, anxious or low, moods that swing, in the first two weeks. Call your midwife, GP or OB-GYN: if it lasts beyond two weeks, gets worse, or you are struggling to cope. Call 911, 999 or 112 now: thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, or confusion, hallucinations or a sudden "high" after the birth.
What the baby blues are
The baby blues are a short wave of emotional ups and downs after giving birth. ACOG describes them as "normal feelings of sadness, fear, anger, or anxiety". The Royal College of Psychiatrists adds mood swings, bursting into tears easily, feeling irritable, low and anxious, and over-reacting to things.
They have reasons. ACOG explains that estrogen and progesterone levels fall sharply in the hours after childbirth. Add a healing body, broken nights and a newborn who needs you around the clock, and the NIMH sums it up: "it's normal for new mothers to feel tired or overwhelmed sometimes."
Timing, according to each source
| Source | Starts | Usually over |
|---|---|---|
| ACOG | About 3 days after birth | Within 1 to 2 weeks |
| NHS | A few days after birth | Within 2 weeks |
| Royal College of Psychiatrists | 3 to 4 days after birth | When the baby is about 10 days old |
| NIMH | First 2 weeks | Short-lasting |
How common are they?
Very. The Royal College of Psychiatrists says "more than half" of new mothers have the baby blues. A meta-analysis of 26 studies including 5,667 women found an average of 39%, with studies ranging from about 14% to 76% depending on the country and method (Rezaie-Keikhaie et al., 2020). Whatever the exact figure, if it is happening to you, many others in your maternity ward are going through it too.
What helps
- Sleep whenever someone else can hold the baby, even briefly.
- Keep food and water next to where you feed.
- Say it out loud to one person: "I keep crying and I don't know why."
- Limit visitors to those who help.
- A few minutes outside each day, if your recovery allows.
- Lower the bar: a fed baby and a fed you are enough for today.
When it is more than the blues
The two-week marker matters. The NIMH says mood changes and anxiety that are severe or last longer than 2 weeks after childbirth may be signs of postpartum depression, and that women with postpartum depression "generally will not feel better without treatment." The NHS adds: "if it continues, gets worse or you're struggling to cope, it's important to get help."
Signs to watch for beyond the blues (NHS):
- low mood or finding it hard to enjoy anything, most days;
- feeling hopeless, guilty or that you are a bad parent;
- worrying all the time;
- difficulty sleeping even when you have the chance to rest;
- difficult feelings about, or difficulty bonding with, your baby;
- thoughts of suicide, harming yourself or your baby.
Our guide to postpartum depression: signs, treatment and helplines explains what happens next. If your main feeling is constant worry, read postpartum anxiety.
Very rarely: postpartum psychosis
In the same first days, about 1 in 1,000 mothers develop postpartum psychosis, according to the NHS: confusion, hallucinations, strange beliefs, or a very "high" mood with little sleep. It is not the blues, and it is an emergency. Read the warning signs of postpartum psychosis and share them with your partner.
For your partner
Expect tears in the first days and do not try to "fix" them: bring food, take a night feed, hold the baby while she showers or naps. Keep an eye on the calendar: if she is still low, anxious or not sleeping after two weeks, suggest calling the midwife together.
Questions parents ask
When do the baby blues start?
ACOG says about 3 days after childbirth; the Royal College of Psychiatrists says 3 to 4 days after birth.
How long do the baby blues last?
The NHS says they usually go away within 2 weeks of the birth. ACOG says they usually get better within 1 to 2 weeks without treatment, and the Royal College of Psychiatrists says they usually stop by the time the baby is about 10 days old.
Do the baby blues need treatment?
No, according to ACOG and the Royal College of Psychiatrists. Rest, food and support help. If feelings last beyond 2 weeks or get worse, speak to a professional.
Can the baby blues turn into postpartum depression?
The NIMH says mood changes and anxiety that are severe or last longer than 2 weeks after childbirth may be signs of postpartum depression, which generally does not get better without treatment.
Sources
- ACOG, Postpartum depression FAQ (glossary, baby blues) checked October 13, 2026
- NHS, Postnatal depression checked October 13, 2026
- NIMH, Perinatal depression checked October 13, 2026
- Royal College of Psychiatrists, Postpartum psychosis (baby blues section) checked October 13, 2026
- Rezaie-Keikhaie K et al., Prevalence of the maternity blues, systematic review and meta-analysis, JOGNN 2020 (PMID 32035973) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.
If it helps, there is also an ebook on this: After Baby: Taking Care of Your Mind