Having a baby is a big change in your life. You probably expect to feel happy and proud about the new member of your family, but many moms feel moody and overwhelmed instead.
It’s normal to feel this way for a little while. After you give birth, your hormone levels drop, which impacts your mood. Your newborn is probably waking up at all hours, too, so you aren’t getting enough sleep. That alone can make you irritable.
You might simply be worried about caring for your baby, and it makes you feel a kind of stress you haven’t dealt with .
You’re not the first mom to deal with these emotional ups and downs. Up to 80% of new mothers get what’s called the “baby blues” — short-term dips in mood caused by all of the changes that come with a new baby.
These feelings often begin when your newborn is just 2 or 3 days old, but you’re likely to feel better by the time your baby is 1 or 2 weeks old.
If your feelings of sadness last longer than that, or become worse instead of better, you may have what’s called postpartum depression. It’s more severe and lasts longer than the baby blues.
Postpartum depression is a mood disorder that affects approximately 10–15% of adult mothers yearly.
Tips to improve baby blues:
• Sleep as much as you can, and rest when your baby is napping.
• Eat foods that are good for you. You’ll feel better with healthy fuel in your system.
• Go for a walk. Exercise, fresh air, and sunshine can do wonders.
• Accept help when people offer it.
• Relax. Don’t worry about chores. Just focus on you and your baby.
If you have symptoms of postpartum depression or if the baby blues don’t ease up after 2 weeks, get in touch with your doctor right away. Don’t wait for your 6-week checkup.
This post is written for the #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. My theme is let’s debunk Common myths around women’s health.
Disclosure: The views expressed in the blog content are independent and unbiased views of solely the blogger. DISCLAIMER: The content in this post is purely meant for educational purpose only and not to be substituted for professional medical advice. One should consult their healthcare provider for any health-related information.
While I was going through the same. I usually went for a walk for about 10-15 minutes. and come back afresh
This is an essential information, sadly still many are ignorant regarding PPD