Giving birth to a new baby is a momentous occasion for any woman, however, the time after you bring your new child into the world can be one filled with countless, tumultuous emotions. New moms may feel anything from joy and happiness to sadness and fear; it’s a normal process to go through. However, if your feelings of sadness begin to become severe enough to interfere with your daily life and your ability to look after yourself and your child, then you may be suffering from postpartum depression. We're talking tips for coping with postpartum depression and what you can do to help yourself.
Tips for Coping with Postpartum Depression
The symptoms of this condition tend to start within the weeks after giving birth, and include feelings of helplessness, mood swings, difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions, and can even make it difficult to bond with your baby, which can cause new moms to feel guilty on top of all these other emotions. If you’re feeling these similar symptoms after giving birth, then you are not alone – around one in seven new moms in the US develop postpartum depression.
Visit Your Doctor
If you feel depressed after giving birth, then it is best you visit your doctor. Remember that health professionals are used to helping women with postpartum depression, and you will not be judged for your feelings – they are totally normal with this condition. Your doctor will be able to carry out a full evaluation of your symptoms and develop a treatment plan for you that’s suitable for both mom and baby, such as referring you to an online counselor who can fit treatment around your daily commitments and speak to you from the comfort of your own home.
Look After Yourself
When you have a baby, your body and mind go through several changes. Women experience physical changes after giving birth that can quickly bring about a loss of self-esteem and confidence; this can worsen the symptoms of postpartum depression and make it difficult to remember to take care of yourself. In addition, the stress and massive commitment of looking after a newborn can easily make new moms feel that they simply don’t have the time or energy for self-care. However, looking after yourself should be just as important; the better care you give yourself, the more equipped you will be to care for your little one. Do this by ensuring that you make some time for yourself to sleep, take a hot bath, or get a massage – anything to help you relax and recover. Take your family and friends up on any offers of help that they give.
Put Your Health and Fitness First
Whenever possible, gentle exercise is important for new moms as this will not only help you to become more energized, it can act as a very effective antidepressant and lift your mood. After giving birth, you’re probably not feeling up to heavy workouts in the gym, but thankfully there are many options to choose from when it comes to gentle exercise that you could even do with the baby. Yoga, for example, is a great choice for new moms since it will help you to regain your muscle strength while yogic breathing can help with the psychological symptoms you are experiencing.