The nine months of pregnancy were probably the most overwhelming to you.
Swinging between feelings of jubilation, excitement, anxiety, and joy must have been emotionally exhausting. Yet, you pushed through it, because you were reminding yourself that the happiness you will experience once your baby is here will be unmatched.
And so it was. Holding your little one in your arms, feeling his warmth, and touching his small hands with your fingers are precious moments that live in the heart of every mother.
Sharing your happiness with your loved ones, and receiving a welcoming party when you are finally taking your baby from the hospital to your house made you remember how every struggle you faced during your pregnancy was worth it.
But unfortunately, in the middle of these delightful moments, something is not right. At least, that’s how you are feeling. Despite being surrounded by your family and friends celebrating the joy of receiving a new member in your family, you no longer feel like yourself.
You probably thought that it is simply due to the physical exhaustion of labor, while in fact, it can go beyond that.
After-birth Depression: Symptoms
What you are experiencing right now is a state that is completely normal and affects most mothers after birth: The baby blues.
Nevertheless, if the following symptoms last for weeks after your baby is here, what you are actually going through could be After-birth Depression, also known as Postpartum Depression(1):
- Severe mood swings
- Insomnia or oversleeping
- Eating disorder
- Extreme fatigue
- Isolation from family and friends
- Anger and irritability
- A feeling of hopelessness, shame, guilt
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
- Thoughts about death or suicide
If these symptoms are neglected, postpartum depression can last for months rather than just a few weeks.
For this reason, if you find yourself relating to most of the symptoms, we encourage you to start taking action immediately. We understand the emotional pain you are going through, and it may seem like there will never be a light at the end of the tunnel. Nonetheless, we want you to gather your strength and fight back, for you and your baby’s sake.
While « taking action » is an expression with a wide meaning, the purpose for using it here is because as we introduce you to some simple steps you can take to overcome your depression, we want real action to be taken upon each one.
But before moving on to the action, let’s take some time to understand the causes of after-birth depression.
Postpartum Depression: Causes
As stated by the National Institute of Mental Health, postpartum depression is not only due to one single cause. Rather, it is a combination of many factors that can be both emotional and physical.
Even though you may think so, but your after-birth depression is not happening because you are doing something wrong. It is mainly caused by unstable hormonal levels which trigger mood swings. (2)
Overcoming After-birth Depression
Getting your life balance after this overwhelming phase can be challenging. However, we believe that resisting your emotions and choosing to fight your postpartum depression with healthy methods can be life-saving, for you and your little one.
The methods we are suggesting that we know will make a difference for sure, are simple and easy to follow :
- Strengthen your bond with your baby: Giving your baby the attention they need will not only contribute to enhancing their cognitive development, but it will also affect your relationship with them in the long term. As postpartum depression can be an obstacle in your aim to bond with your baby sometimes, try to dedicate a specific time every day when your whole focus is only on your baby.
An effective and fun way to spend these moments together can be through baby massage for instance.
- Have your own Me-time: Taking time to take care of yourself is not selfish. In fact, it can be the greatest gift for yourself, and your baby as well. It doesn’t have to be by going to luxurious beauty centers, but simply by making sure you are getting enough sleep at night, and supplying your body with the right nutrition that will boost your energy and mental focus.
- Build Stronger Social Connections: You are not the only one going through after-birth depression or struggling to keep up with your baby’s needs, and this doesn’t make you a bad mother in any way. Meeting mothers who are going through the same journey as you are will be all the help you need. Besides learning from each other, you will be feeling emotionally comforted when you are with people who know what you are going through.
- Sweat It Out: Introducing a workout plan in your busy routine is tough, but not impossible. The Internet offers a multitude of workout programs that you can perform at home without equipment or going to the gym. Moreover, many of these workouts are only about 20 minutes long. So you have no excuses not to workout.
Being physically active will make you happier, reduce your stress levels, boost your memory and sleep quality, and help you lose the weight you may have gained during pregnancy.
Word From Us
Overcoming after-birth depression and getting your life balance back will not be easy, but it is definitely worth it. If you feel like you can’t get started on this journey all by yourself, it is okay to ask for your partner and family’s support. They will be there to remind you of every reason why you must keep going and to motivate you when the pain gets too much to bear.
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