A woman, who is 4 days postpartum, presented with tearfulness, mood swings, and occasional insomnia. What is the likely diagnosis?

Options

1. Postpartum depression
2. Postpartum blues
3. Postpartum psychosis
4. Postpartum anxiety

Correct Answer

Postpartum blues

Explanation

Postpartum blues ("baby blues") is characterized by: 1) Onset: 3-5 days postpartum, 2) Symptoms: tearfulness, mood lability, anxiety, irritability, insomnia, 3) Duration: self-limited, resolves within 2 weeks, 4) Prevalence: affects 50-80% of mothers, 5) Management: reassurance and support only - no medication needed. Contrast with postpartum depression (onset within 4 weeks to 1 year, persistent symptoms, requires treatment) and postpartum psychosis (acute onset within 2 weeks, hallucinations, delusions, confusion, medical emergency).

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