How to deal with postpartum depression? And what is that? In the first few weeks of caring for a newborn, most new moms feel anxious, sad, frustrated, tired, and overwhelmed. If that feeling goes away after a few weeks, that’s called “Baby Blues”. But for some women, those feelings are very strong or don’t get better. Postpartum depression is when these feelings don’t go away after about 2-3 weeks or make it hard for a woman to take care of her baby. It’s a serious problem and parent should find out how to deal with your postpartum depression.
It’s not anyone’s fault or weakness when a woman gets postpartum depression.
It can happen to every woman and it is treatable. Treatment helps most women feel like themselves again. Then they can enjoy having a new baby at home. Let’s find out how to deal with postpartum depression.
Risk factors for postpartum depression
There’s no single reason why some new mothers develop postpartum depression and others don’t, but a number of interrelated causes and risk factors are believed to contribute to the problem.
- Hormonal changes. After childbirth, women experience a big drop in estrogen and progesterone hormone levels. Thyroid levels can also drop, which leads to fatigue and depression.
- Physical changes. Giving birth brings numerous physical and emotional changes. You may be dealing with physical pain from the delivery or the difficulty of losing the baby weight, leaving you insecure about your physical and sexual attractiveness.
- Stress. The stress of caring for a newborn can also take a toll. New mothers are often sleep deprived. In addition, you may feel overwhelmed and anxious about your ability to properly care for your baby. These adjustments can be particularly difficult if you’re a first-time mother who must get used to an entirely new identity.
- Lack of emotional support. Relationship problems and emotional withdrawal from a partner during pregnancy and after the birth of a child can also lead to postpartum depression. Closeness & satisfaction in the partnership can prevent it.
Signs of postpartum depression
Symptoms & symptoms of postpartum depression can vary from woman to woman. But common signs include:
- feeling sad, hopeless, or overwhelmed
- feeling worried, scared, or panicked
- feeling unhappy and stressed
- blaming yourself unnecessarily
- crying a lot
- feeling moody
- anger
- sleeping too much or too little
- eating too much or too little
- trouble concentrating
- not wanting to be with friends and family
What to do?
- Create a secure attachment with your baby
- Attend accompanied coaching program for parents
- Lean on others for help and support
- Spend more time with your partner and child
- Visit couple workshops
- Take care of yourself
- Make time for your relationship with your partner
If you need immediate support, you can contact me and talk about how to deal with your postpartum depression.