7 Tips for New Moms Battling Postpartum Depression

Giving birth to a baby isn’t easy; it is laced with pain and agony. Many new mothers find it challenging to connect with their babies because they still have a crippling feeling of extreme anxiety, loneliness, and depression that surrounds them. According to science, this is called postpartum depression.

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a psychological condition that occurs after childbirth. This condition affects more than just the person who gives birth. It can also impact other parties, such as adoptive parents, surrogates, and the parents’ families.

But regardless of how worse the situation is, it is essential to understand that postpartum depression is never (ever) your fault. Plus, it is treatable. If you, as a new mom, suffer from postpartum depression, don’t berate yourself. You must work on yourself and nurture habits that offer nothing but feelings of joy and heartiness. To help you with this, we’ve assembled a few tips. These tips will aid you in battling postpartum depression and help you open a new chapter in life: loving yourself and your baby.

Here they are:

• Contents

  Toggle

  Talk about your feelings

When there’s no shoulder to lean on, you may be lost. You may even avoid speaking out because you don’t want to burden people with your problems. But that is not ideal. Talking about your feelings with others can help you manage your mood. And this is especially true for new moms going through postpartum depression. 

A critical thing to remember is that you shouldn’t compare your suffering to others and must identify your cause and treat it accordingly. If, for instance, your cause of PPD is from a preventable mistake during childbirth, such as cerebral palsy, understand that you are not nearing a cul-de-sac. You can acquire legal aid for cerebral palsy and get the treatment you and your child deserve. Similarly, you can seek treatment for any other situation that may have caused your PPD.

The point of this discussion is that you will never be okay if you don’t discuss your problems. So, take all the help you need and never lock yourself out of the world because nothing good will ever come from that.

• Meditate or exercise

High-intensity workouts are not good for women who have recently given birth, but short walks are ideal. When your baby is taking a nap, start walking around the house so you can keep an eye on them. You can even go outside for a quick walk, run, or jog after your husband gets home. When you have some alone time, this will make you feel better. You could also choose to meditate.

Every morning, sit outside and dig deep from within your mind, attempting to clear it of all bad feelings. Recite your life goals and a mantra that will help you stay fixated and alert throughout your life. Yoga positions are well-known for relaxing muscles and the central nervous system. Eventually, you will feel much better and more in control of your feelings once your brain has relaxed.

• Try outdoor activities

Even if you just run to the corner coffee shop, getting out of the house for a few minutes can help you feel less lonely or sad. Furthermore, it can help you feel like you’re accomplishing at least one thing on your to-do list each day, which can help break the monotonous cycle of caring for your newborn. 

Try not to overburden yourself with tasks to complete. It could make you feel even more nervous or overwhelmed.

• Get adequate sleep

The main issue with new mothers is that they do not have enough time to relax or sleep. They lack sleep because newborns get up in the middle of the night to feed. And this makes getting rest tricky for mothers. Pump some breast milk before bed to ensure your partner can care for the baby while you sleep. 

You can also try to sleep whenever the baby does. You’ll make up for lost sleep this way; the more you sleep, the better you’ll feel.

• A Healthy Diet

When women become pregnant, they tend to overindulge in junk food and other unhealthy food items. When those hormones start acting up, the hunger pangs become insane, and women tend to give in to their cravings more and more. The body already goes through enough, so women do not constrain themselves and see it as a prize for their hard work. It’s enjoyable, but only for a short time. Preservatives in processed foods interact with their hormone levels, causing bizarre reactions. Junky food will make you sad and depressed, raising your anxiety levels.

So start your day with some fruits and veggies or a healthy smoothie containing protein to make things better for yourself. It will give the body the energy it requires while making one feel good. As they begin to feel better from the inside, they’ll also begin to feel better on the outside.

• Contact between the skins

Whether you breastfeed or formula feed your baby, try doing so with their bare skin against yours. If the room is breezy, wrap a blanket around your baby to keep them warm and cozy. With this method, you can cradle your munchkin.

Skin-to-skin contact helps relax you and your baby while strengthening your bond. Additional advantages include more protracted periods of alertness and sleep, improved weight gain, less cold stress, less crying, better brain function, and earlier discharge from the hospital.

• Leave the grid

It’s as simple as turning off your phone and going for a walk. Too much time spent on social media can leave us either blindsided with FOMO (fear of missing out) or insufficient compared to other families or women. No one else is like you — be true to yourself, detach from the world, and reunite with yourself. 

Set some ground rules, such as turning off the computer for an hour before you crash or during mealtimes. That way, you can be completely immersed in whatever is going on at the time and leave your false thoughts behind.

Conclusion

If implementing these tips into your routine doesn’t work, notify your doctor so they can adjust your meds accordingly. Yes, motherhood is frightening, but remind yourself that you are doing a brilliant job because that is what every woman wants to hear. Indeed, with appropriate help and support, many people live rich and fulfilling lives. Know that you are essential. Your life is meaningful, and emotions are not factual statements. There is assistance and hope available everywhere.