As a new mom, you might face pain emotionally along with physical pain, like pain in the breast as you will nurse. You will face challenges as it starts with pregnancy and continues after childbirth in every mom’s life. Many heartbreaking cases occur when young mothers who kill their babies are warning us of a dangerous disease called postpartum depression.
One of the foremost reasons is lack of sleep. To overcome or prevent these challenges, there are so many ways to vent out. Postpartum depression is not a rare disease. According to statistics, at least 24% of mothers suffer from depression before and after giving birth.
How to recognize depression after giving birth?
Most women experience baby blues syndrome, which is a change in mood during the day they give birth. A mother can change her mood suddenly, thrilled, very sad, can cry without reason, lose her patience, restlessness, loneliness, and sadness. These conditions can go away on their own without intervention, but if they last for over 2 weeks, you should be alert for postpartum depression.
Depression often occurs after birth, explained by the mother’s body has sudden changes in hormones and immunity easily leading to depression. It can be difficult for the insider to realize that he or she is having problems with depression. Therefore, the family’s care, understanding, and support are essential to prevent, detect, and intervene early in postpartum depression.
Moms with postpartum depression may have subsequent signs:
- Sadness, lingering feelings of loneliness, and negativity
- Body fatigue, weakness
- Mood changes erratically, unable to control emotions
- Eating disorder
- Loss of interest
When the symptoms last for 2 weeks, the first thing to do with family members is to take the mother to a doctor or a mental health specialist.
How to prevent postpartum depression?
Exercise can have antidepressant effects in women with PPD. In particular, walking with your baby in a stroller can be a simple way to get some fresh air. We consider walking to be a significant way of reducing depression.
Try exercising for 10 minutes a few times a day with short, simple exercises that you can do without equipment.
Maintain a healthy diet
Only healthy eating cannot cure PPD. However, getting into the habit of eating nutritious foods can help you feel better and provide your body with the nutrients it requires. Try to plan meals for the week on the weekends and even preparing healthy snacks.
Postpartum is a good time to boost your omega-3 fatty acids, like DHA. Postpartum depression rates are higher with low DHA levels in women. If you’re a vegetarian, nuclear oil is another significant source.
Make time for yourself
If you are overwhelmed by your work, family responsibilities, or your oldest child. You might think about making suggestions to help with babysitting or maybe letting another trusted adult to look after the baby for an hour or two. You may find it helpful to schedule some time for yourself once a week. In additon you can go out to get fresh air for a short amount of time and can use this time to take a walk. You can take a nap, go to the movies, or do yoga and meditation.
We advise you to sleep while your baby sleeps. This advice can frustrate over time, but it stems from science. Specifically, this applies to women who sleep less than four hours between midnight and 6 am or less than 60 minutes of napping throughout the day. In the initial days after childbirth, some babies sleep during the night and some during the day.
As you have to feed often, you can relax when your baby sleeps. As they grow, you may find it helpful to take a nap or go to bed early. If you are breastfeeding, you can also consider planning a bottle pump to ask someone to help you care for your baby when needed. Take time for yourselves to relax.
The treatments for postpartum depression
Essential oils for postpartum depression
Have you ever heard of essential oils for postpartum depression? That is the natural medicine to help you overcome depression. Follow along for details!
The essential oils have comforting, and emotional effects that help fight depression. Essential oils help users feel happier, awaken feelings of romance and dreams. The aroma of essential oils stimulates the release of hormones in the body, including the neurotransmitter serotonin that improves mood in the patient.
With anti-stress and allergy properties, soothes the skin, gives you a feeling of peace so naturally, you can sleep well. We commonly use essential oils as relaxing oils. The most outstanding effect of the essential oils is the pleasing aroma it delivers. It can awaken feelings of romance and sublimation.
Postpartum depression medicine
The first step in treatment is tackling immediate problems such as sleep, appetite changes, and antidepressants often work. It secretes some antidepressants in small amounts in breast milk, so it is important to consider choosing the right medicine if the patient is breastfeeding.
If taking antidepressants, we usually advise patients to take for at least six months to a year to avoid relapses and then gradually decrease or continue for longer depending on the patient’s symptoms and history.
Postpartum depression is a serious illness that sometimes makes it impossible for the person to control their behaviors. Also, for people who had a previous episode of postpartum depression, your doctor may recommend that you take preventive medicine right after your baby is born or during pregnancy.
Most antidepressants do not pose any major risks to the fetus, even though all drugs have potential risks. Many women who have given birth do not want to get pregnant right away. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize the signs of depression. Have stress-free parenting as a mind free mom!