Becoming a parent is no doubt a blessing but it doesn’t come without its set of challenges. Among the countless challenges faced by parents, postpartum depression is one of the most significant ones.
Postpartum depression is continuous mood swings, being in depression, and staying anxious without any particular reason. As many as 1 in 7 women face PPD after Childbirth.
The majority of women with PPD are untreated mainly because it is undiagnosed or is not considered important enough to seek therapy for. However, it is essential for a mother to be healthy both physically and mentally to be able to take care of her child, as a famous saying goes; “You cannot pour from an empty cup!”
A mother who is not mentally healthy will not be able to keep their children healthy as well. Let’s look at a few tips which will be able to help you as a mother deal with postpartum depression.
How to deal with Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression has many symptoms and needs a proper diagnosis and treatment from a doctor. Additionally, you can also try the following tips to overcome postpartum depression:
Taking care of yourself: One of the best ways to relieve yourself from postpartum depression is to take good care of yourself. It becomes hard for you as a parent, especially if you have become a parent for the first time to take out time to look after yourself.
Having another human being who is entirely dependent on you is not an easy task and at times becomes quite overwhelming. At these times, while taking care of the baby, mothers forget to take care of themselves. Some simple lifestyle changes can easily help you in taking time out for yourself.
Taking postnatal supplements: It is essential for you to take your multivitamins which have been prescribed by the doctor especially if you are breastfeeding. Pregnancy and delivery of a baby requires a lot of mental and physical effort, and in order to regain your strength you need to supplement yourself with the required vitamins.
A diet containing Omega 3 is also highly recommended to deal with postpartum depression.
Resting: Resting is very important as babies tend to keep you up during night time as they need to be tended to every few hours. You can take care of yourself by resting whenever the baby is napping so that when the baby is up you are well-rested and fresh.
Pamper yourself every once in a while: It is necessary for you to give your baby to your trusted ones every once in a while and take some time out for yourself. You can either be alone and watch a movie, go out with your friends, or go to a spa to pamper yourself.
Regular Exercise: After delivery, many women are not allowed to exercise without the approval of the doctor. However, you can do light exercises like stretching or a bit of walking to freshen yourself up from a tiring schedule. Physical activity helps a lot in overcoming depression, and some sort of physical exercise is a good way to divert your mind and overcome postpartum depression.
Keeping your loved ones near: Developing a strong support system is essential for the well-being of both mother and baby. A mother cannot solely take care of the baby without any help from family or friends. We as humans also require physical and social interaction to stay healthy and happy.
This also helps in reducing stress. New mothers often feel lonely like their world has turned upside down after the birth of their baby.
As much as a mother loves her baby, it is necessary for her to feel connected to her loved ones to stay sane. Loneliness causes depression, anxiety, and even other health-related problems like blood pressure.
Having a strong support system helps in keeping you emotionally intact and also helps in overcoming postpartum depression. If none of your family or relatives are nearby, you can also reach out to support groups on social media, there are many out there through which you can connect with other mothers for help and support.
Go for therapy: Professional therapy is a must requirement to deal with postpartum depression. If you cannot take out time to go regularly, you must take out time every once in a while for the sake of your mental health.
Postpartum depression, if not dealt with on time, takes months, even years to go away completely. It is a disorder in which mothers often don’t realize that they are being affected by it, hence, it is recommended that you see a therapist or a doctor, after your delivery to ensure that your mental health is not compromised in any way.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression
There are many ways in which postpartum depression can affect new mothers. Symptoms and signs are generally different for each individual but there are some common symptoms which have listed down below:
- Mood swings
- Anxiousness
- Irritability
- Being constantly tired
- Feeling of hopelessness and despair
- Not feeling hungry, loss of appetite
- Not being able to love or take care of your baby
- Feeling constantly annoyed
- Withdrawals
- Want to stay isolated
While some may feel fewer symptoms and are on the lower spectrum, there are many who face severe issues where it becomes necessary to seek instant help from a psychiatrist.
Final Thoughts
Postpartum depression has become very common among new parents, but if treated on time, both mother and child can be saved from any undesirable consequence. By following the tips and seeking doctors’ advice you can treat it completely.
