By the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health

New over-the-counter supplement, BluesAway, hits the U.S. market as the first ever, clinically validated, natural supplement to prevent the baby blues

Correction: This post was updated 4-20-24 to clarify that this supplement is effective in preventing baby blues but not indicated for treatment or prevention of postpartum depression.

A recently published study confirmed that a new natural supplement (in the form of premade shakes), invented, researched, and developed by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) (Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital) prevents postpartum baby blues for six months after giving birth.

The natural supplement’s key ingredients include wild blueberry extract, L-tyrosine, and L-tryptophan - and their combination in specific amounts is what is what the CAMH indicates makes the supplement effective.

Per a press release by the company Exeltis USA,

“Blues Away® was studied in a placebo-controlled trial in more than 100 postpartum women over a two-year period. The study, Dietary Supplement for Mood Symptoms in Early Postpartum: A Double-Blind Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial, was published this week in The Lancet discovery science journal eClinicalMedicine. Findings show the key ingredients in Blues Away® had a statistically significant reduction on the severity of postpartum blues in the active group as compared to the placebo group as measured by the Stein Maternity Blues Scale scores at day 5 postpartum. There were no serious adverse events reported in the clinical trials and the data also reinforce the suitability of Blues Away® use among mothers who are breastfeeding.”

Blues Away® is not intended for postpartum depression, a more severe, longer-lasting version of baby blues that requires medical help.”

The nutritional product is now available in the U.S. under the BluesAway® brand. CAMH partnered with international women’s health supplement and pharmaceutical company Exeltis via a licensing agreement to bring the product to market. BluesAway® doesn’t require a prescription and comes in the form of pre-made shakes that a person drinks over the course of 3 days, after birth.

We have updated our menu of treatment options to include BluesAway to include this new supplement as one of many options that can support a patient's mental health .

Because this supplement is available over the counter (including through Amazon), insurers are not likely to cover this intervention though we encourage patients to submit their receipts to insurers through a member claim form as some commercial/private insurers may reimburse the supplement because it’s considered preventive.