How to overcome postpartum depression

Share on Pinterest There are many things that you can try to improve your well-being following a diagnosis of postpartum depression. Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression rarely disappears on its own. The condition can occur days or even months following the birth of your child and last for many weeks or months without treatment. If you are thinking about harming either yourself or your baby, put your baby down in their crib immediately and call a family member, friend, or one of the following helplines: 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433); 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); or 1-800-PPD-MOMS (1-800-773-6667). Postpartum depression is a treatable psychological disorder. It can be managed effectively, and you will feel better. But first and foremost, it is important to reach out to your healthcare provider and ask for help. Do not struggle with postnatal depression alone. It is not your fault that you are depressed, and being depressed does not make you a bad parent. Here are Medical News Today‘s steps to cope with postnatal depression, to be used together with guidance and advice from your doctor. Share on Pinterest Baby massage is one way that you can help to secure the bond between you and your baby. A secure bond forms when you tune in and respond to your child’s needs or emotional cues, such as picking them up, soothing them, and reassuring them when they cry. Being that dependable source of comfort allows your child to learn how to manage their own feelings and behavi...

She curls up in bed, exhausted by the negativity in her mind. She should get up and dressed, but the thoughts in her head are crippling. She just wants to sleep for eternity. The baby next to her wakes suddenly, screaming. It physically hurts to hear her cry. She grabs the bottle off the nightstand and fills it with formula. Her eyes are heavy with sadness as she remembers the intense struggles to breastfeed. The guilt is overbearing as she recalls the exact moment that she had decided she had to let go of her dreams of breastfeeding her sweet baby. It was just another failure to add to her long list. Advertisement She holds her daughter in her arms, tears streaming down her face. The weight of her depression is unbearable. “I’m sorry I’m not the mom you deserve,” she says to the hungry baby in her arms. She finishes feeding the baby, burps her, and tries to lay her down. The infant starts fussing, which quickly turns into earsplitting screams. She picks her up and rocks her gently. Advertisement She spends the next few hours rocking, swaying, standing, sitting, and bouncing. Nothing will soothe the crying child in her arms. She’s getting frustrated, “Please stop crying. What am I doing wrong?” She turns on the bath and gets in with the baby. She tries to calm her racing mind. She takes a breath, and then another. The baby is content in the warm water, and they both begin to relax. A few minutes later, the child is asleep in bed. The exhausted mom stands up and looks aroun...

25 shares • Share • Tweet • Pin How to overcome postpartum depression is a question that up to 13% of new moms ( (And that number is just a statistic. It’s likely much higher, as women in postpartum recovery mode often don’t share their depression with others.) Postpartum depression (and But for new moms, overcoming postpartum depression can feel like an absolutely insurmountable feat. To heal from postpartum depression, we’re often told to “take time for yourself” or “make sure you’re getting enough rest”, but the harsh reality of the postpartum phase of life is that taking care of yourself the way you’d LIKE to is almost a physical impossibility. (Not to mention that “time for yourself” isn’t something that we can have in spades either.) So how then, can we try to overcome postpartum depression? (THIS POST PROBABLY CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. OUR FULL DISCLOSURE POLICY IS REALLY BORING, BUT YOU CAN FIND IT To heal from postpartum depression, we need to understand what it is – and what it is not (Because those are actually very different things, and in the days after baby, it can be hard to distinguish between postpartum depression and the baby blues.) What is postpartum depression not? Well, it’s not in your head for one thing. It’s not just that you “feel sad”. It’s not something you can “shake off”. (Just like any depression. It’s not an “attitude” thing. Having a positive attitude – if you can – WILL help a little, but it won’t cure postpartum depression.) It’s not just...

Becoming a new parent can be both a joyful and challenging experience, yet for those struggling with postpartum depression, those early days can be especially dark. The National Institute of Health estimates between 6-20% of women will struggle with postpartum depression. While emotional changes are expected after giving birth, postpartum depression has longer-lasting effects that could impact one's ability to care for a child or handle daily tasks. Symptoms like extreme mood swings, crying, anger and hopelessness are common, according to the Mayo Clinic. Like other mental health disorders, postpartum depression is treatable and can be effectively managed with therapy and medication. However, receiving treatment is often a challenge, and became even more difficult during COVID — according to the Evernorth Research Institute, the research arm of healthcare platform Evernorth Health, 46.5% of women with postpartum depression received no treatment during the pandemic. "It's really important for us to understand this, because when postpartum depression is left untreated, it can have a significant and long-lasting impact on the health of not only the mom, but the well-being of the entire family," says Urvashi Patel, vice president of data and analytics at the Evernorth Research Institute. Read more: Why postpartum depression affects all parents The pandemic changed the healthcare experience for many pregnant women, and the gulf between expectation and reality could have affecte...

I am pleased to feature this guest post about postpartum depression and anxiety written by author Bridget Croteau. When I was a first-time mom, I experienced the baby blues for several weeks. I was weepy, detached, and forlorn. I found myself overwhelmed by even simple tasks, often neglected to eat, and worried about everything. Eventually, I started to come out of the darkness, find myself again, and enjoy motherhood. Bridget is committed to shedding light on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders such as postpartum depression and anxiety, and supporting and encouraging parents who are experiencing such disorders. –Jennie Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn on qualifying purchases. Postpartum depression and other perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD) are the most common complication of childbearing. PMADs affect 1 in 5 mothers and 1 in 10 fathers! I personally went through a PMAD twice following the births of both my girls. It was an incredibly difficult and lonely time, but I got through it with help, and so will you! I’m going to share some tips I learned through education and my personal experience on how to get through a PMAD. Everyone has a different situation and journey, so what worked for me, may not work for you – and that’s okay! I also want to stress that getting through this took time . Join a Support Group Both times I had a PMAD, I attended a support group. I absolutely loved my support group – for me, it was a ...