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Why Do I Feel This Way? Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

By Shelley L. Northern, ARNP

You survived 9 long months of pregnancy, hours of labor and the birth, and now you are home and settling into your new life with your newborn baby.  Although this is typically a very special time in your life, it can also be emotionally challenging.  Approximately 70% of all new moms will experience symptoms of the baby blues in the first two weeks postpartum and 1 out of every 7 women will experience postpartum depression.

Baby blues is very common.  The symptoms are generally mild and typically come and go.  A woman with baby blues may feel tearful, insecure, vulnerable and moody.  Baby blues will resolve after a few weeks as your hormones level out and you begin to adjust to your new life with your baby.  Although it is no fun to feel this way, it is important to keep in mind that you have just been through a profound life experience both physically and emotionally.  If you are experiencing baby blues it is helpful to rest as much as you can, stay hydrated and nourished, and spend some time going for short walks outside with your partner or a friend.

Postpartum depression is different than the baby blues.  The symptoms of postpartum depression may start any point during the first year after the baby’s birth and last for several months if left untreated.  Women who have postpartum depression may feel sad, disconnected from their family and their baby, have difficulty concentrating, have a disrupted sleep routine and a change in their appetite as well.  In more severe cases, a woman may have thoughts of hurting herself or her baby.

Postpartum depression is a serious condition and requires medical help.  If you think that you could be struggling with postpartum depression, please make an appointment to talk with your care provider so that they can help you to start to feel better. Spokane OB GYN is here to listen and to help you get the care that you need to feel better soon.  Just call either the down town clinic at 838-4211 or 928-2866 at our Valley location.  We want to help.

Construction Notice

The City of Spokane Valley is improving the Pines & Mission Intersection near our Spokane Valley location. 

Starting April 15th, 2024, most of the work will happen between 8:00 PM and 6:00 AM, with some daytime work too.

They’ll try to limit traffic disruptions, keeping the intersection open and businesses accessible but please plan accordingly when visiting our Spokane Valley office.

Click below for more details:

We can expect minor traffic changes mostly around the northeast and southeast corners of the intersection. This involves digging for the wall, upgrading traffic and pedestrian signals at Pines & Mission intersection, and improving its northeast and southeast corners.

Traffic revisions involve closing westbound Mission Avenue and the northwest shoulder of Pines Road near the 190 offramp, with ongoing modifications to traffic signals, retaining wall construction, sidewalk improvements along northwest Mission Ave, and prep work for repaving Pines Road and Mission Ave.

Traffic changes will close westbound Mission Avenue and part of the northwest Pines shoulder, limit center lanes on the east side of Mission and the south of Pines, pave parts of Mission Avenue and Pines Road, and reconstruct the traffic island at the Pines Road and Mission Avenue intersection.

Mission Avenue will be fully closed from the Pines intersection westbound to just before Applebee’s parking lot’s west driveway, with center lane restrictions on eastbound Mission. The project involves grinding existing asphalt, paving new asphalt, adding traffic islands, installing new road markings and signs, and landscaping the northwest quadrant of Mission and Pines.

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