Question

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

• A. Postpartum depression
• B. Postpartum blues
• C. Postpartum psychosis
• D. Postpartum anxiety

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The clinical scenario presented describes a woman who is 4 days postpartum experiencing tearfulness, mood swings, and occasional insomnia. These symptoms align most closely with Postpartum blues, also known as "baby blues". This condition is experienced by many women shortly after childbirth and is characterized by mild and transient symptoms of mood changes, tearfulness, insomnia, and irritability, typically peaking around the 4th or 5th day postpartum and resolving within two weeks.

Condition	Typical Onset	Key Features
Postpartum blues	Within first week postpartum	Mood swings, tearfulness, mild insomnia
Postpartum depression	Within 1-12 months postpartum	Persistent sadness, severe mood swings, loss of interest
Postpartum psychosis	Within first 2-3 weeks postpartum	Delusions, hallucinations, severe mood disturbances
Postpartum anxiety	Within first year postpartum	Excessive worry, panic attacks, irritability

Given the timing and nature of the symptoms, they fit the description of Postpartum blues, which typically does not require medical intervention and is self-limiting. Support, reassurance, and education are usually sufficient.