Dealing with Postpartum Depression

It’s common for many women to feel a bit down, tearful or anxious in the weeks after giving birth to a child. The previous generation would describe it dismissively as feeling the “baby blues”, something to get on with or get over. And for most women, that’s precisely what they do. Most new mom’s recover from the feelings within a couple of weeks of giving birth and forget that they ever had the blues in the first place. However, for some, the symptoms don’t go away. They intensify and deepen considerably as time goes by, dragging on for months with no seeming respite in sight. Surveys show that one in ten mothers will suffer from this severe form of postpartum depression within the first year of giving birth with cases also recorded of fathers and partners suffering similar problems.

Symptoms

The symptoms of postpartum depression are varied and can start at any time in the first year after giving birth, with many experiencing a slow development of the indicators making initial diagnosis difficult. All those who will suffer from this serious mental illness will eventually experience one or more of the following:

• A constant feeling of sadness or feeling down.
• An inability to enjoy anything. Everything you do either has no impact on your depressed mood or deepens it further.
• A loss of interest in the things going on around you and withdrawing from the things you used to do including spending time with your friends.
• A lack of energy or feeling tired all the time but equally trouble sleeping at night.
• Feelings of distance from your new child and in rare cases feelings that you will hurt your child.
• Inability to make decisions and a feeling that the decisions you do make are wrong.

How to deal with Postpartum depression

The first thing to do if you think you are suffering from postpartum depression is to speak to your doctor immediately. They will offer guidance on the many techniques, activities, and guidance proven to alleviate the symptoms of the depression. If your symptoms are severe, they may be able to put you in contact with groups or other expert individuals who have experience dealing with the issue. Don’t think you have to struggle alone hoping that the problem will go away. A range of help and support is available, including therapy if required. Depression is an illness like any other and treatments are available for the symptoms.

You are not alone

Remember it’s not your fault that you’re depressed – anyone can suffer from depression. Statistics show that one in twenty American people will suffer from depression in any given year and over a quarter of everybody suffers from it at some point in their life. It is now the most diagnosed illness in the western world. Just because you are depressed does not mean you are going mad. It also doesn’t mean you are a bad parent or a bad person.

• Talk to people. Talk to your parents. Talk to your family. Talk to your friends. Let them know how you feel and what they can do to help you. There is no shame in postpartum depression and they will want to help you as much as they can. We have found that having loving and supportive people around helps with getting through the postpartum phaze

• If your symptoms are severe then speak to your doctor about a course of antidepressants to help see you through this tricky period in your life. If you are worried about breastfeeding and taking drugs then don’t. Your doctor can prescribe versions of the drugs that are safe to take while your child is still feeding. Your doctor may also recommend a course of therapy with a trained therapist. Don’t dismiss this. They are experts for a reason and only want to help and support you.

• Schedule some me time for yourself. Get your partner or a reliable childcare provider to look after your baby and go out and enjoy some fresh air. Pamper yourself. Go to a spa or on a shopping trip. Meet friends. Relax and try to enjoy the moments that make you smile.

• Get enough sleep. We all know how difficult this can be with a new baby, but it’s vital for both yourself and your child. Get your partner or other family members to pitch in at least every couple of days so you can rest and sleep.

• Don’t be afraid to cry. Your hormones are going to be all over the place. That’s fine. Don’t fight them. If you feel the urge to cry then do it. When you cry your body secretes the hormones in the tears, thus flushing your system and making you feel better in the long run.

• Get some gentle exercise and slowly build this up. Go to your local gym. Go for a walk. Studies show that exercise has an antidepressant effect for women with postpartum depression. Just, walking with your baby in a stroller might be an easy way to get in some steps and breathe fresh air.

Healthy lifestyle

Eat healthily. Getting into the habit of eating nutritious foods can help you feel better and give your body necessary nutrients. Try planning the week’s meals on the weekend and preparing healthy snacks ahead of time. Think whole foods, such as chopped carrots and cubed cheese or apple slices and peanut butter that are easy to grab on the go. Resist the temptations to snack on sweet or fatty snacks. These will cause your blood sugar to fluctuate and create mood swings.

Try to create a strong bond with your baby. bonding with your baby benefits both you and your child. Close contact with your infant releases the oxytocin hormone into your body and an increase in oxytocin making you feel happier, more caring, and sensitive to the feelings of others. Cuddle your child. Have skin to skin contact with them. Smile at them. Their response if they smile back will fill you with joy.

And finally remember that postpartum depression is no less serious than any other type of mental illness and, like any other illness, with the proper treatment and support the symptoms can be lessened over time

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