On top of being physically sore, you may experience some form of baby blues, or postpartum depression . Be aware that most women will be very emotional following the birth of their baby. You may find yourself crying for almost no reason! This is very common. You need to know if what you are feeling is something more serious that requires treatment.

What Is Postpartum Depression?

This is a clinical form of depression that usually happens within the first few weeks after giving birth, and affects approximately 12%-16% of new mothers. This is a potentially serious condition that should be looked after right away.

Although it is normal for many new mothers to feel 'baby blues' after childbirth , if these feelings of sadness last more than two weeks and affect your ability to take care of your baby - and yourself - you may something more serious.

Signs And Symptoms

Some signs of this condition may include:
- having guilty thoughts
- feeling worthless or hopeless
- feeling inadequate
- resentful feelings towards your baby and other family members
- having crying spells for no reason
- feeling very sad and depressed
- having difficulty concentrating
- feeling restless, lethargic or out of control
- withdrawing from family and friends
- having thoughts of suicide or other scary thoughts
- changes in sleep or appetite

If you experience any or all of the above symptoms, please seek help. There are ways to deal with this. Medications, counselling or therapy can help.

Call your doctor, or your local public health authority. You can easily locate this by doing a local search on the internet.