Baby Blues vs Postpartum Anxiety and Depression How to Know When to Get Help with Brittany Keating
Are what you’re feeling normal postpartum emotions… or could it be something more?
In this episode, I’m joined by Brittany Keating, a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) with a perinatal mental health certification (PMH-C) and founder of Cocoon and Bloom Collective, to unpack a question so many moms quietly wonder about:
What’s the difference between baby blues and a perinatal mental health disorder?
We talk through what the baby blues can look like, how they differ from postpartum depression and anxiety, and what signs may indicate it’s time to reach out for support.
Brittany also helps normalize some of the symptoms moms may feel scared to talk about—like intrusive thoughts, irritability, rage, or overwhelming anxiety—and reminds us these experiences are common, treatable, and nothing to be ashamed of.
If you’ve ever questioned whether what you’re feeling is “just part of new motherhood,” this conversation offers clarity, validation, and hope.
In this episode, we talk about:
The difference between baby blues and perinatal mood disorders
How long baby blues typically last
Signs it may be time to seek support
What postpartum anxiety and intrusive thoughts can look like
How therapy can support healing in the postpartum season
This episode is a reminder that getting support is not a sign something is wrong with you—it’s a sign you deserve care, too.
For medical emergencies, contact your healthcare provider or call 911. For mental health crises, call or text 988.
Connect with Brittany:
Learn more about her private practice: Cocoon and Bloom Collective
Follow her on Instagram @cocoonandbloomcollective
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Want More Support in the Postpartum Season?
If you’re longing for deeper support during postpartum, you’re invited to join my community Bible study, Postpartum on Purpose.
Inside this space, we have honest conversations about the real struggles moms face in postpartum while opening God’s Word together to see how His truth speaks into our mental health, identity, relationships, and healing.
You don’t have to walk this season alone.
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Postpartum moms need more than a meal train and a quick “How’s the baby?”
They need to be seen, supported, and cared for, too.
In this episode of the A Bridge to Motherhood Podcast, Danielle talks about some of the ways the church can unintentionally make postpartum motherhood harder—including expecting moms to return to “normal” too quickly, asking them to serve before asking what they need, and sometimes offering spiritual answers to problems that also require practical support.
Because postpartum moms may need prayer and sleep.
They may need Scripture and a meal.
They may need to trust God and ask for help.
These things are not opposites.
Supporting a postpartum mom is spiritual ministry—and the church has an opportunity to become a place where mothers don't have to pretend they're okay or carry the weight of motherhood alone.
And while we don't want to place unrealistic pressure on moms to maintain a perfect spiritual routine, we also don't want mothers to believe that their relationship with God has to disappear during this season.
So what does it actually look like to spend time with God when you're exhausted, overwhelmed, and barely have time to shower?