Five Tips for Postpartum Depression

Written by TsangShireen

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Posted on August 09 2022

In our imagination, becoming a mother and witnessing the birth and growth of a life is a sacred event; and a mother who has just given birth and is carrying her lovely baby must be blissfully happy.

However, the actual life is often not so beautiful. Behind all the glamour, happiness and sweetness we see, there may be an unknown and painful past.

About 80% of women experience low moods after childbirth, and with continued low moods, postpartum depression can develop. The group of postpartum depression is not a minority; a study showed that 19.2% of new mothers will experience significant postpartum depression, while 7.1% will experience severe postpartum depression.

Table of Content:

  • Causes of postpartum depression
  • Symptoms of postpartum depression
  • Self-adjustment of maternity
  • The role of family members

Causes of postpartum depression

1. Hormonal effects.
After a woman gives birth, estrogen and progesterone will drop rapidly from their high levels during pregnancy, which will make her body feel very tired and depleted, and thus prone to depression.

2. The routine and rhythm of life is disrupted, sleep is deprived, and the body does not get rest.
Especially when women see their out-of-shape, breastfeeding overflow, urine leakage and other wretched images, these physical discomforts will act on the psychological, triggering depression or anxiety.

3. Excessive self-demand.
Suddenly being pushed into the position of "mother", the new identity brings great responsibility and makes people feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to deal with it. The slightest situation of the child will make you feel responsible for it, which will lead to strong self-blame and guilt, and even self-doubt that you cannot provide good parenting for your child.

 4. Lack of family and social support.
After the birth of a child, many families focus on the child, but neglect the mother who should be cared for the most. Not only do they suffer from severe physical pain, but they are also under tremendous emotional stress. At this time, if the husband does not do anything, family members blame and question, the mother easily into grief and self-blame. It is very difficult to find a channel to talk, because it is often misunderstood as hypocritical. too many emotions can not be relieved, can only bear, which will undoubtedly aggravate the maternal depression. In recent years, maternity clothes manufacturer have reformed to meet the needs of consumers, producing a wide range of beautiful clothes.

5. Loss of self.
Mothers who have just given birth to a baby are devoted to taking care of their children almost 24 hours a day, but have no time to do what they want to do. Their identity is defined as "mother", and they are tied to their children, even if they go out for a while, they must always think about their children. When they want to eat food, they have to think about "will it affect my breastfeeding"; when they want to buy new clothes, they worry about "will it be easy to carry the baby in them". The mother no longer seems to be an independent individual, but the child comes first.

Symptoms of postpartum depression

1. Depression: feeling depressed for a long time, sometimes weeping for no reason
2. Grumpy: easily get angry
3. Fatigue: Generally women feel tired and inattentive after childbirth
4. Insomnia: unable to sleep, poor sleep quality
5. Loss of appetite: do not want to eat
6. Loss of interest: feeling that life is meaningless, even thinking of suicide
7. Inability to cope with life: unable to live a normal life and take care of a baby
8. Guilt: often blaming oneself and criticizing oneself
9. Anxiety: feeling anxious about taking care of the baby

Self-adjustment of maternity

     

1. Let go of excessive self-imposed requirements, do not have to pursue perfection.
Allow yourself to have negative emotions and accept that you can't do everything. It is probably everyone's wish to become a strong person inside. However, true inner strength is not doing everything right and perfectly but being able to accept one's own limitations and acknowledge one's own vulnerabilities and shortcomings. Accept yourself as a mother who is not perfect but always learning.

2. Be gentle with yourself.
It's okay for life to get out of control once in a while. Growth is about moving on through constant bumps and bruises. We are all learning how to love, to love ourselves, to love our children, to love our families. And love that is always hopeful.

3. Give yourself some self-care time each day.
Take a break from motherhood once in a while and don't have to be tied to your kids every day. We can go out, find friends to talk to, buy our favorite things, watch movies, go to the spa, and other activities. A social life can be rejuvenating, and enjoying time alone can be relaxing for our bodies and minds.

4. Make sure you sleep.
Do not underestimate the impact of sleep on us, a person who is chronically sleep deprived can lead to physical and mental imbalance, emotional crankiness or low mood. Rest and sleep not only has a greater impact on the body, but also has a very important regulatory role in the mood.

5. Find support.
If housework is too much, you can seek help from family members to free yourself from repetitive and tedious chores. If emotions need an outlet, talk to family and friends, which can make us feel much more relaxed. If you have doubts about how to take care of your baby, such as sleeping or breastfeeding, seek advice from your pediatrician. Professional guidance can help mothers relieve anxiety and handle coping more easily and comfortably. If you feel that you can't get rid of your emotions, seek support from a professional counselor, or in more serious cases, go to a psychiatrist to get a diagnosis and establish a treatment plan.

Don't always think that it will pass if you put up with it, behind the identity of "mother", you are first and foremost yourself. When you are in a good state, your life and your children will be happy.

The role of family members

     

 When a woman assumes the role of a mother, she can't help but put her children's needs first, thereby suppressing her own. When we celebrate the greatness and selflessness of a mother's love, do we ever care about the emotional torment they are going through, yet unable to speak about it?

  • If your family member is experiencing postpartum depression, tell her that it's not her fault and that you will be there for her.
  • When she talks about her feelings, don't judge, don't tell her "it's okay, it's fine, don't think about it", but listen to her with empathy.
  • Recognize her hard work for her family and children, and work with her to take care of the children and household chores so that she can have time to do what she likes.
  • If she decides to seek professional psychological help, please encourage and support her and thank her for her willingness to face it positively.

Life is a dawn followed by a darkness, and after the darkness comes the dawn. It may be a little tough now, so let's keep each other company and move forward slowly.

 

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