Dealing With The Baby Blues Or Postpartum Depression As A New Mom

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  • 12 Feb, 2020  |
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1 Dealing With The Baby Blues Or Postpartum Depression As A New Mom

Motherhood is undoubtedly complicated. Some new mothers experience nothing but joy and excitement in the first few months after giving birth, while other women experience a whole host of other difficult, unexpected emotions. For some mothers, negative feelings can be so intense that day-to-day tasks become difficult to accomplish.

If you are a new mother experiencing mood swings and mild depression, you are not alone. In fact, as many as one in nine women experience symptoms of postpartum depression in the first few months after giving birth. Despite it being a common condition, it’s not usually discussed openly. So, let’s talk about how to identify postpartum depression and how to help alleviate the negative emotions that come with it.

Baby blues vs. postpartum depression

Almost all women will experience some of the symptoms of postpartum depression after giving birth. Because your body’s hormonal balance is off-kilter and constantly shifting, mild mood swings are natural. Most new mothers also find themselves adjusting to new sleep patterns, feelings of stress, and daily isolation.

If your emotional fragility doesn’t go away after the first few weeks, or if they seem to get worse, you may be dealing with a case of postpartum depression rather than the more common baby blues.

Symptoms of postpartum depression

Postpartum depression lasts much longer than the baby blues, and, over time, can become a very serious condition. Look out for the following symptoms:

• Social withdrawal
• Insomnia
• Mood swings
• Crying
• Sadness
• Irritability
• Uncontrollable anxiety

If you experience more serious symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, suicidal thoughts, disorientation, or inexplicable behavior, you may have postpartum psychosis. Postpartum psychosis is a rare and extremely serious medical condition that requires immediate professional medical attention.

Tips on dealing with postpartum depression and baby blues

Postpartum depression can develop into a serious condition. We recommend seeking out the help of a medical professional who will be able to give you the best advice on your condition.

However, if you are looking for some simple ways to tackle your baby blues or your postpartum depression symptoms on a daily basis, here are some ideas of ways to alleviate your symptoms.

Bond with your baby

It’s imperative that you find ways to bond with your new child. Your baby will need a deep sense of attachment to mature and grow in his or her first few weeks. Attachment develops between a mother and child through wordless communication - smiles, laughs, cuddles, and so on.

Postpartum depression can make this bonding process difficult. When you experience the symptoms of the condition, it can feel impossible to respond to your child in the ‘right’ way. You may find yourself becoming inattentive and even uninterested in your child from time to time.

While you need to bond with your child for their own sake, the process of bonding also releases endorphins in your body, which will help alleviate your symptoms of depression, helping you to settle into your new role as a mom.

1. Spend time cuddling
Try to take some time every day for uninterrupted skin-on-skin contact. Cuddling is an essential part of baby bonding.

2. Breastfeed
Many professionals recommend breastfeeding as a way to bond with your baby. If you can’t breastfeed or prefer not to, try keeping eye contact with your baby during bottle time.

3. Sing to your baby
While tactile time is important, it’s also good for your baby to hear the sound of your voice. If you feel like you have nothing to chat about with your baby, try singing them one of your favorite songs.

4. Try on some cute outfits
Spend some time trying on some extra cute outfits. Bitsy Bug has some adorable, funny onesies that are sure to put a smile on your face - which your baby will love to see! Check out their collection here: https://bitsybugboutique.com/collections/funny-baby-onesies

5. Picture books
Reading to your baby is great for bonding, plus, it’s a great way to kickstart the linguistic part of their brain development.

Create a support network

Many new mothers feel incredibly lonely and isolated in the first few weeks after giving birth. While your baby is your number one priority, don’t forget to keep up with your own social life. If you are struggling, don’t be afraid to reach out to friends or family members for support.

1. Call a friend
It will be good for you to have an adult conversation every once in a while. Even speaking with a friend on the phone for 10 minutes can help you to feel less isolated.

2. Schedule a coffee date
Try and schedule a small outing every day. Whether it’s a coffee date with a friend, a trip to the park, or even a walk to the corner store, it’s important for you to get out of the house and into the real world.

3. Open up to your partner
Tell your partner how you feel. Don’t feel like you have to hide your negative feelings from him.

4. Chat with other moms at the park
You may not have friends who have young children. Strike up a conversation with other buggy-pushers on one of your daily outings.

Take it easy

Spending time on yourself can be hugely beneficial. Give yourself permission to do the things you used to before your pregnancy.

1.Exercise
Get back into exercise, which releases endorphins and offers a short break from baby time.

2. Meditation
Try to implement a mindfulness routine for 10 minutes each day. Focus on your breath and your senses. You will feel much calmer and more focused.

3. Sleep
Most mothers lose lots of sleep when their new baby arrives. Try to get as much of it as you can. When your baby sleeps, try to get some shut-eye for yourself. A lack of sleep can make symptoms of depression worse and harder to deal with.

4. Me time
Give yourself permission to take some time for yourself. Whether you need time to read the paper, watch tv, or go for a walk, ask your partner or a friend to stay with the baby while you take a half an hour break.

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