Having a baby alive and well is considered one of the happiest moments in a woman’s life. Most of them even feel so overwhelmed with emotions that they can’t sit still and be with the baby all the time on their hospital beds. Some are just excited to get home with their babies and spend all their time with them.
During this time, one may feel anything from fear to joy, or even sadness, which is generally very normal under typical circumstances. However, many mothers also feel a specific type of depression called postpartum depression.
As unfortunate as it is, it’s pretty common among mothers, especially new ones. But what is postpartum depression, and what can a mother do to cope with it?
What is Postpartum Depression (PPD)?
The term “postpartum” means after childbirth. Many people call it the baby blues, but it’s far from the truth. It’s fairly common to have baby blues for 3 to 5 days. However, if you feel like your baby blues are not going away, or you’ve been feeling like this for at least two weeks, you might have postpartum depression.
PPD is a serious mental illness that involves your brain and affects how you deal with things and how you live your life after having a baby. It can go from mild to severe and even sever your emotional connection to your child as if they’re not your baby or you’re not their mother. It can be pretty daunting, but thankfully, you do a few things to cope with PPD.
Recognize That You Need Help
One common misconception that some new mothers believe is that as a mother, you need to do it all for your child, and asking for help means that you’re a bad mom. That’s not true, especially when you’re having a severe case of PPD.
If you feel like you have PPD, you need to tell your loved ones about it so they can help you. If you’re still not feeling well, you can also ask for the help of a professional who can help you with your case. Remember, as strong as moms are, they are still human and sometimes need help.
Let Yourself Feel
Caring for a newborn can be pretty daunting and takes a lot of your time. Babies need a lot of care and comfort, after all. However, that could also mean that you won’t have enough time for yourself to process all of your emotions. With how busy you are, it’s easy to bottle up your feelings inside. Of course, this isn’t good.
It can be very helpful for your mental health to stop once in a while, close your eyes, and feel your emotions, especially processing your feelings towards the whole thing. This way, you can make up your mind about the whole thing while also being able to relax.
Connect With Your Loved Ones
Asking for love and comfort from other people is never a bad thing, especially from those who care a lot about you. If you’re feeling down or just feeling the waves of PPD, talking to your loved ones can do you a lot of good.
Connection is the key here, as you don’t need to deal with motherhood alone. Phone calls can be good, but if you want a more sincere connection, having a video call can be nice if you can’t meet them. Always remember that you’re not alone; some people are more willing to help than you thought.
Also Read: 15 Celebrities Who Made Pregnancy A Fashion Statement
Therapy
If you want to deal with PPD more efficiently, you can ask for the help of professionals like a psychiatrist or a therapist. You might think you’re too busy to meet with them regularly, but who said you have to meet them personally?
Many mental healthcare professionals are now using telemedicine to meet and talk with their patients regularly in the comforts of their homes. With that, they prescribe you medicine, give you advice, and will even do therapy sessions with you online.
Healthy Eating
Healthy eating doesn’t only involve your physical body but your mind as well. A well-balanced meal will make you feel good about yourself, and it will even be passed on to your baby if you breastfeed them. If you want to incorporate another source of nutrients and minerals into your diet, you may consider best greens supplement, which are made from dried green and leafy vegetables, fruits, digestive enzymes, and probiotics — perfect for new mothers who want to nourish their body and health for motherhood. Remember, a healthy mommy means a healthy baby.
Also Read: 6 Ways of Identifying & Reducing Mental Stress in Healthcare Workers
Final Words
PPD, in extreme cases, can be bad not only for the mommy but also for the baby as well. With the loss of connection to others and their babies, both will suffer greatly. Luckily for us, there are a lot of things you can do to help yourself or other mothers to cope with PPD. Just remember that you’re not alone in this endeavor.
