How to deal with Postpartum Depression

What is Postpartum Depression?

Depression which is caused after childbirth is known as postpartum depression. After childbirth a woman goes through many changes. Some of these are tiredness, anxiety, difficulty in sleeping, mood swing, and body pains. A woman goes through physical, emotional, mental, financial and social changes. 15% of mothers suffer from postpartum depression. It usually starts 2 or 3 days after delivery and lasts up to several weeks, months or a year also. Many surrogate and adoptive mothers also suffer from postpartum depression. In such conditions it is necessary to take care of the baby and the mother.

How to deal with postpartum depression?

A mother develops baby blues after delivery. It usually starts within the first week of delivery and lasts upto two weeks. 50% to 75% of women suffer from baby blues. Out of 15% of these develop into postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a very serious condition. Psychotherapy and antidepressants can cure it very well. These are some of the ways through which you can deal with postpartum depression.

Medication – Anti -anxiety and antidepressants tablets can help you to cure postpartum depression. Consult your healthcare provider before taking any medication as your child is breastfeeding. Medication can be transferred to the baby through milk. Your healthcare provider can give you antidepressant medications which are safe during breastfeeding.
Counselling – In such conditions it is very necessary to talk to someone. A therapist, expert or maybe a friend or family member who can help you deal with this depression.
Ignoring negative people – Many people, especially those in old age will taunt you or try to make you feel guilty. For some actions like making the child wear a diaper, feeding formula milk or using a feeding bottle. They will also tell you negative experiences of their children’s childhood. Avoid such people and their talks and always remember that a mother always knows what is best for her baby. No mother can harm her own baby.
Take time for yourself – Though motherhood is a full-time job. It is very necessary that you take time for self – care or doing activities which you like or makes you feel relaxed. Eg:- Reading a book, listening to soft music, exercise or walking.
Get rest for yourself – It is a normal habit of any mother that when the child is sleeping, they always want to do their work. Do prioritise sleep over other work or household chores. During this time your body needs proper rest. Since you also have been exhausted taking care of the help.
Share your responsibility – Parenting is teamwork and not a single-handed job. It is very necessary that the father or other family members help the mother. Changing diapers, making the baby sleep, playing with the baby or other chores can be done by the father. Also take time to sit and spend some time with your husband. Generally new parents do not get time to spend with each other.
Eat healthy food – It is very necessary that during this stage you should eat healthy food in the right amounts. During breastfeeding, eating right and healthy food is necessary. Also take some time for walking or exercise which makes us feel relaxed.
Avoid stress – You are going through a lot of changes physically and mentally after childbirth. Struggling with breastfeeding, taking care of the baby and yourself too. Leads to a lot of stress. Stress taken by women during breastfeeding can affect the baby negatively.

How to prevent postpartum depression?

Though we cannot prevent postpartum depression entirely. These are some of the factors which can reduce the risk of postpartum depression.

Be realistic about your expectations – Do not expect too much from yourself or people around you. As this will only increase your stress or affect you mentally.
Limit visitors – During the first few weeks try to limit the visitors. Too many visitors will affect your health physically and mentally.
Keep in touch with your friends and family – Trying to keep in touch with your family and friends. Either through the phone or personally as they will make you feel relaxed. They can also help you with the baby and other household chores.
Rest – Sleeping while the baby sleeps is very necessary so that your body also gets proper rest. A woman’s body goes through lots of physical changes during childbirth. It needs proper rest. It’s okay if the house is a little bit messy or if you cannot cook a proper dinner for the family. You need to take care of yourself. To take good care of the baby.
Ask for help – Asking for help from other family members in taking care of the baby. Even if they don’t offer to help you can approach them for help.
Good and bad days – Not all days are the same. Sometimes it will be very easy. You will feel everything like bliss. While sometimes things will be so difficult that you feel exhausted, irritated. Many times, you will just feel like running away from all this. In such times just pause for a minute, relax and say everything will be fine. Accept that all days are not the same. You have to deal with both good and bad days calmly.
Have positive emotions – During breastfeeding along with food your emotions are passed on to the child. It is very necessary to have positive emotions. So that your child will develop more positive emotions. To develop positive emotions, you need to be relaxed, calm and happy.

Conclusion

Postpartum depression is very common in today’s world. If you feel you have symptoms of postpartum depression. Please do not panic, it’s not your mistake. Having a postpartum does not make you a bad parent. Please see a doctor who can give you a better idea on how to deal with the symptoms of postpartum depression.

References : my.clevelandclinic.org; Dr. Ashwini Joshi – Paediatrician, Mumbai; Personal experiences; http://www.medium.com

~Shreya Shah~

I am Shreya Shah, living in Mumbai and a mother. I love to write, try different cuisines and travel. I express my thoughts, ideas and feelings through my writing. I believe everyone is different in this world and so is their ideology. We should accept everyone the way they are. Since everyone is unique in their own way, never judge anyone.

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