However, educating women during pregnancy about postpartum blues may help to prepare them for these symptoms that are often unexpected and concerning in the setting of excitement and anticipation of a new baby. Mothers who develop postpartum blues often have significant shame or guilt for feelings of anxiety or depression during a time is expected to be joyful. It is important to reassure new parents that low mood symptoms after childbirth are common and transient. Obstetric providers may recommend that patients and their families prepare ahead of time to ensure the mother will have adequate support and rest after the delivery. Additionally, they should provide education and resources to family and friends about red flags of more severe perinatal psychiatric conditions that may develop, such as postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Treatment
Postpartum blues is a self-limited condition. Signs and symptoms are expected to resolve within two weeks of onset without any treatment. Nevertheless, there are a number of recommendations to help relieve symptoms, including:
Getting enough sleep
Taking time to relax and do activities that you enjoy
Asking for help from family and friends
Reaching out to other new parents
Avoiding alcohol and other drugs that may worsen mood symptoms
Reassurance that symptoms are very common and will resolve on their ownIf symptoms do not resolve within two weeks or if they interfere with functioning, individuals are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
Early diagnosis and treatment of more severe postpartum psychiatric conditions, such as postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis, are critical for improved outcomes in both the parent and child. Prognosis
Most mothers who develop postpartum blues experience complete resolution of symptoms by two weeks. However, a number of prospective studies have identified more severe postpartum blues as an independent risk factor for developing subsequent postpartum depression. More research is necessary to fully elucidate the association between postpartum blues and postpartum depression. Epidemiology
Postpartum blues is a very common condition, affecting around 50-80% of new mothers based on most sources. However, estimates of prevalence vary greatly in the literature, from 26 to 85%, depending on the criteria used. Precise rates are difficult to obtain given lack of standardized diagnostic criteria, inconsistency of presentation to medical care, and methodological limitations of retrospective reporting of symptoms. Evidence demonstrates that postpartum blues exists across a variety of countries and cultures, however there is considerable heterogeneity in reported prevalence rates. For instance, reports of prevalence of postpartum blues in the literature vary from 15% in Japan to 60% in Iran. Underreporting of symptoms due to cultural norms and expectations may be one explanation for this heterogeneity. Males

Literature is lacking on whether new fathers also experience postpartum blues. However, given similar causes of postpartum blues and postpartum depression in women, it may be relevant to examine rates of postpartum depression in men.