Postpartum Depression and the Baby Blues

Congratulations you just gave birth to your newest member of your family. So why do you feel so sad? Postpartum depression is an illness, like diabetes or heart disease. It can be treated with therapy, support networks and medicines such as antidepressants. Here are some symptoms of postpartum depression:

* Loss of interest or pleasure in life
* Loss of appetite
* Less energy and motivation to do things
* A hard time falling asleep or staying asleep
* Sleeping more than usual
* Increased crying or tearfulness
* Feeling worthless, hopeless or overly guilty
* Feeling restless, irritable or anxious
* Unexplained weight loss or gain
* Feeling like life isn't worth living
* Having thoughts about hurting yourself
* Worrying about hurting your baby

Although many women get depressed right after childbirth, some women don't feel "down" until several weeks or months later. Depression that occurs within 6 months of childbirth may be postpartum depression. About 10 to 20 percent of new mothers are diagnosed with postpartum depression about 50 to 80 percent of women get the 'baby blues'.

Why do women get postpartum depression?

The exact cause isn't known. Hormone levels change during pregnancy and right after childbirth. Those hormone changes may produce chemical changes in the brain that play a part in causing depression. Feeling depressed doesn't mean that you're a bad person, or that you did something wrong or that you brought this on yourself. Its something that every women goes through differently. Just like labor it can be difficult to understand why you feel the way you do. Sometimes women go unheard with there depression. Its hard not to feel like if you share this with other people they may hold it against you or at least that is how I felt. That if anyone new about it then they would consider me less of a mother.

These are a few ideas of things to help you cope with this and something that you might be able to do to help yourself.

* Find someone to talk to--and tell that person about your feelings.

* Get in touch with people who can help you with child care, household chores and errands. This social support network will help you find time for yourself so you can rest.

* Find time to do something for yourself, even if it's only 15 minutes a day. Try reading, exercising (walking is good for you and easy to do), taking a bath or meditating.

* Keep a diary. Every day, write down your emotions and feelings as a way of "letting it all out." Once you begin to feel better, you can go back and reread your diary--this will help you see how much better you are.

* Even if you can only get one thing done in any given day, this is a step in the right direction. There may be days when you can't get anything done. Try not to get angry with yourself when this happens.

* It's OK to feel overwhelmed. Childbirth brings many changes, and parenting is challenging. When you're not feeling like yourself, these changes can seem like too much to cope with.

* You're not expected to be a "supermom." Be honest about how much you can do, and ask other people to help you.

* Find a support group in your area or contact one of the organizations listed below. They can put you in touch with people near you who have experience with postpartum depression.

* Talk with your doctor about how you feel. He or she may offer counseling and/or medicines that can help.
I think that after a little time that you can get though this. You must remember that you cant get everything done and that sometimes those dishes are just going to have to sit. You need this time to bond with your baby and enjoy who they are. They can give you as much of an emotional push as anyone. This little person in your life fully depends on you. You are still human and now a mother and you need moments to yourself. Your child has tummy time well you have mommy time. Take this time to relax take a bath and read a great book. If its in the middle of the day and your child has just gotten on every nerve put them in there crib or playpen somewhere they are safe. Take five minutes to just sit in the other room while they play. This can be different after time because your child will start to cry when you leave them. This is a great time to practice the crying it out method, if your comfortable with that. Even if my daughter gets mad that I leave her I let her cry it out and when she is done with her tantrum I then re-enter the room and we continue to play or I take the moment to clean a little since she knows that I am not going to pick her up. These are helpful in letting you know that its ok for you to take time for yourself. You may be a mommy now but you are also a person. Its ok if you loose it sometimes thats whats daddy is here for. Now that you have this information don't you feel a little better? You are not alone there is always someone to listen to you and not judge. Good luck and have some fun with your newest member.