The distinctions between the three are a matter of degree, but it is helpful to consider them separately. The baby blues is the most common form of postnatal illness and follows anything from 50 to 80 per cent of deliveries. Typically, a mother may become weepy, irritable or slightly depressed after the third or fourth day. The cause may be hormonal, or may simply be a reaction to the momentous event of childbirth. Either way, the problem is transitory, usually lasts just a few days and rarely requires treatment.
Postnatal depression is more severe and affects one woman in ten.
The woman will typically be miserable, tearful, prone to panic, anxiety and feelings of failure. She will probably feel constantly tired and lack concentration. Some women entertain obsessional thoughts, groundless fears and ambivalent feelings towards the baby. A few react with revulsion, perhaps even forming the notion that their babies aren't their own. Even so, postnatal depression can last for years.