The Unseen Tears: My Postpartum Baby Blues Story (Part II)

If you haven’t read about my arrival at the hospital and the whirlwind of those early postpartum days, you can catch up here. Today, I want to open up about my experience with postpartum baby blues—the emotional crash I never saw coming in those early weeks after giving birth. Did you experience the baby blues after giving birth? What did it feel like for you?

What Are Postpartum Baby Blues?

I remember venting to my doula during one of her regular check-ins—just letting it all out. The exhaustion, the swirl of emotions, all of it. That’s when I first heard the term baby blues.

The baby blues—also called postpartum blues or maternity blues—describe a stretch of mild but very real mood shifts that many women go through in those first few days or weeks after giving birth. Anything lasting longer than that might point to postpartum depression. Were you aware of the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression in those early days?

The Moment I Broke.

Just a couple of days after we got home, my little sister and her boyfriend came over to meet her baby nephew. I remember being upstairs, trying to find the energy to get out of bed and come downstairs.

I actually felt… okay. Or at least I thought I did. I told my man I was heading down, and he watched me closely—just making sure I didn’t trip or fall. I walked straight to my sister, and honestly, I still don’t know what came over me… I just broke. Burst into tears right there in her arms. She held me tight and whispered, “It’s okay, sis. I’m right here,” and she didn’t let go until I did. Has anyone else experienced that sudden, overwhelming emotional breakdown in the early postpartum period?

From that day on, my sister came by every week. She took care of me, the house, her nephew—whatever needed to be done. Paris, I’m forever grateful to you.

Accepting Help During Postpartum Baby Blues.

I’ll admit my sister’s visits weren’t easy for me at first. Like I shared in my postpartum experience part 1 blog, asking for help or feeling like I need help is something I’ve always struggled with.

But my man insisted. He wanted (and needed) someone to be there with me and our son when he went back to work just a couple of weeks after being home from the hospital. Trust me, I tried to win that conversation (lol). But now? I totally get it. I still had stitches that made moving around a struggle. And emotionally? I never knew what kind of day I was going to have. I was exhausted in a way I didn’t even understand at the time. Did you find it difficult to accept help during your postpartum recover?

Disconnected and Drained: My Pediatrician Breakdown

I remember our son’s first pediatrician appointment so clearly—oh man, it felt like it dragged on forever. First we had his appointment and then I had a consultation with the lactation specialist.

To be completely honest, if my man hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t have remembered a thing. At first, I was present, answering questions, nodding along. But then something just… switched. My man looked over at me—worried, trying to read my face while still catching what the doctor and lactation consultant were saying. Meanwhile, I just sat there. My body felt hot. I was physically in the room, but mentally? I was gone. It felt like a wave of sadness washed over me and I vanished inside my own body.

The Roller Coaster of Postpartum Emotions: Showing Up Even When I Didn’t Feel Like It.

I think what shocked me most wasn’t just how emotional I felt—it was how unpredictable everything became. Some days I felt okay, like I was in control. Other days, I barely recognized myself. But in all of it, one thing remained: I was a mom. A child relied on me to feed, change, and love. That’s all I knew. I didn’t have the luxury of questioning whether this was “normal” or not—I just had to show up. And even when I felt like I was unraveling inside, I showed up. I kept going, even though I was struggling with things I couldn’t quite name yet. It wasn’t until later that I realized how much the pressures of breastfeeding, and the emotional toll it took, would shape the rage I felt. I didn’t have the words then, but I’ll share more about that in Part III. To read part III click here.

Navigating the Postpartum Baby Blues

The baby blues are real and can hit unexpectedly. It’s not just being tired; it’s a genuine emotional shift. Accepting help is crucial for recovery, both physically and emotionally. Don’t be afraid to lean on your support system.
Those early postpartum appointments can feel overwhelming. Having a support person with you can make a huge difference.
Postpartum emotions can be unpredictable and intense. Know that you’re not alone in this experience. It’s okay to just “show up” and do what you need to do, even when you don’t feel like yourself.

You’re Not Alone: Stay with Me on This Journey.

Now that you’ve read about my experience with postpartum baby blues, I want to remind you: If you’re feeling this too, you are not alone. The ups and downs, the confusion, the moments of questioning everything even when you’re just trying to survive the day that’s all part of the journey. I’m sharing this with you because I know how easy it is to feel isolated during this time, and my hope is that my story helps someone else feel seen and understood.

In Part 3, I’ll dive into the deeper struggles I faced—how breastfeeding played a role in my emotional breakdowns and rage, and the unexpected battles that pushed me to my limits. Stay tuned, because the hardest parts of this journey are still ahead.

I’d love to connect with you outside of this blog! You can follow me on Instagram, where I share behind-the-scenes glimpses of my life and positivity.