Time after you've delivered a baby can be full of emotions, pain, and dilemmas. The feelings a woman goes through, either sad or happy, from joy to fear, are normal. But does it make it easier on them? Absolutely not! If you, or anyone you're close with, has just had a childbirth experience and is now feeling countless emotions of sadness, just that it's postpartum depression in women.
Women start experiencing symptoms nearly 2 weeks after the delivery, and in many cases, it stays till 6 months afterward. You would know it by these symptoms:
Absurd mood swings.
Indecisiveness and trouble making the right decisions.
You have a hard time connecting and affectionating with your baby.
Having negative thoughts all the time.
These are the signs and symptoms of PPD, and if you find yourself experiencing them, don't feel bad for yourself. You're not alone. According to the survey, every woman in 7 experiences PPD worldwide.
The most effective way to diagnose and treat PPD is by visiting your doctor. At the same time, this might be the first time for you, but not for them to diagnose and help the new moms. They have a treatment plan in place that will help you cope with PPD sooner.
Also, here are some general ways to overcome PPD:
Build a Secure Bond with Your Baby
During the nine months of a healthy pregnancy, a woman creates an unbreakable bond with her child. Due to hormonal and emotional changes, that bond becomes temporarily blurred, but it doesn't mean you don't want to connect with your baby. Bonding with your newborn baby will help you get through postpartum self-care more than anything else. Knowing that your baby is dependable on you will restore your faith in motherhood and turn your emotions positive. Just know that you won't be attached to your baby overnight, but it'll come with time. PPD is vital, but try to find comfort in your newborn's smile, skin-to-skin contact, and pure innocence.
Get Some "ME" Time Alone
Even though it sounds impossible to be a new mom with hundreds of added responsibilities of a newborn now, sparing some alone time for yourself will get you through postpartum depression in women. We understand that a lot is stressing you right now, like the stress of work, breastfeeding, household responsibilities, and poopy diapers. Remember that there's no shame in asking for help from your close friends and family. They can babysit your child for a few hours so you can finish a nap or spend some quality alone time. Also, your partner can take on household and outdoor responsibilities while you're looking after the baby. This way, you won't be overburdened.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
Womens healthcare is incredibly important. Just do yourself a favor and not fall victim to your absurd cravings for unhealthy food after giving birth. Now that your pregnancy period is over, you'd think you can go back to burgers and pizzas all the time, which is not valid. Do you know that food has a direct impact on our mind, which controls our feelings? So, when you're going through PPD, eating unhealthy should be the last thing on your list because you're breastfeeding your newborn. Whatever you eat or drink goes straight to them. Also, women are most likely to get gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
Slowly Reintroduce Exercise
Studies have shown that slowly reintroducing exercise might help combat postpartum depression in women. There's no doubt that one of the major causes behind PPD is female health concern that they'll never go back to their old shape after they've had a baby. So, exercising is one effective way to achieve better psychological well-being. This will give you confidence and motivation that your body is in your control, and having a baby doesn't mean you can never be fit again. Lastly, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says exercise can help strengthen abdominal muscles, reduce stress, promote better sleep, and increase energy.
Meet Other New Moms
When you're in postpartum depression, no one around you will understand your feelings better than new moms. You'd find your feelings mutual with them. You can meet and socialize with other fellow moms and discuss your issues with them. They can share positive interactions with you and offer emotional support, especially for the first postpartum period, that'll reduce your stress and anxiety as a new mother. Moreover, if they've also experienced postpartum depression, they can share tips and tricks with you to overcome it just like they did. Seek other moms with children of the same age as yours through groups, classes, or apps to share your everyday experiences.
Try Psychotherapy and Medication
If nothing else works for you, your obstetric care can come to the rescue. Consulting the doctor who delivered your baby would be an excellent option for discussing PPD. They'll be able to counsel you, and if need be, they can prescribe you antidepressants for your PPD. But remember that it should be the last option when any other remedy isn't working to overcome Obgyn postpartum depression naturally. Meeting with a psychotherapist is also another effective way to discuss your issues with them. All a new mother needs is a listening ear, emotional support, and expert advice during this time. Who better than a psychotherapist?
Don't Isolate Yourself
The first thing a woman wishes to do during postpartum depression is isolate herself. A study published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry shows that talking about your feelings with others can help you change your mind. Researchers who regularly spoke to mothers experiencing postpartum depression found that new mothers reported lower levels of depression. These benefits continue for four to eight weeks after birth.
Do Women Get Postpartum Depression After Miscarriage?
Approximately 20% of women who miscarry experience symptoms of depression and anxiety. Most affected women experience symptoms for 1 to 3 years, and quality of life and fertility are subsequently affected.
FAQs
What is the golden hour after birth?
The golden hour is when a mother makes skin-to-skin contact with her newborn for at least an hour. That hour is uninterrupted and incredibly special because that's the first time a mother gets to meet her child. Doing this is essential for the newborn who has spent nine months in a controlled environment inside their mother's uterus.
What is the 5 5 5 rule postpartum?
Five days in the bed
Five days on the bed
Five days near the bed
This rule is supposed to give you an undivided and much-needed rest after you've delivered another human out of you.
What happens to a woman postpartum?
Your body eliminates the blood and tissue inside your uterus after your baby is delivered. This is referred to as vaginal discharge or lochia. It is thick and bright crimson for the first several days, and it may contain blood clots. The flow becomes less frequent and lighter in hue with time.
How do women act during postpartum?
Most new mothers have postpartum "baby blues" following childbirth, which often include mood changes, weeping episodes, anxiety, and sleeping problems. Baby blues usually begin during the first two to three days of birth and can continue for up to two weeks.
The Bottom Line
There are higher chances that a woman might experience postpartum depression after childbirth. Therefore, the people around her must take good postpartum perineal care of a new mom because they really need that. If you’re experiencing delayed postpartum depression, we suggest meeting your OB-GYN because they’ll be able to guide you better in this condition. If need be, they’ll conduct a postpartum depression test to confirm the symptoms are for PPD. We hope the ways to cope with postpartum depression in women we’ve enlisted in this blog are helpful to you.
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