Ways to Cope with Postpartum Depression(2/4)
Becoming a parent triggers various emotions, from joy and excitement to anxiety and fear. Baby blues are relatively common among new moms, but how do you cope with postpartum depression, a long-lasting and severe mood disorder?
Postpartum depression can hurt the well-being of both the mother and child, yet 1 in 5 women keep quiet about their symptoms and therefore remain untreated.
Unlike the baby blues, postpartum depression rarely disappears on its own. The condition can occur days or even months following your child's birth and last for many weeks and or months without treatment.
Postpartum depression is a treatable psychological disorder. It can be managed effectively, and you will feel better. But first and foremost, it is crucial 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 some steps to cope with postnatal depression, together with guidance and advice from your doctor.
Build a secure bond with your baby
Emotional bonding is the secure attachment that forms between parents and children. Successful bonding allows the child to feel safe enough to develop fully, and having this bond will affect how they communicate and form relationships throughout their life.
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 feelings and behaviours, which, in turn, helps to strengthen their cognitive development.
Postpartum depression can significantly impact early bonding, making it difficult to get through each day and hindering your ability to look after both your baby and yourself.
One study of 14,000 children in the United States found that 40 per cent of the children lacked solid emotional bonds with their parents. This lack of solid parental attachment made the children more likely to experience behavioural and educational problems.
Some parents feel an instant rush of love the moment they set eyes on their baby, while for others, it takes time. If you have not yet bonded with your baby, do not feel anxious or guilty. Sometimes, it can take weeks — or even months — to feel an attachment, but it should come with time.
Learning to bond with your baby benefits both you and your child. Close contact with your infant releases oxytocin, the “love” or “cuddle hormone.” An increase in oxytocin makes you feel happier, more caring, and sensitive to the feelings of others, and it enables you to recognise nonverbal cues from your baby more readily.
Build a support network
Humans are social creatures and crave interaction with others. Having positive social interactions and emotional support may be a protective factor in helping to reduce stress and deal with life’s difficulties.
New mothers can sometimes feel lonely and overwhelmed by their new role. Research has shownTrusted Source that loneliness leads to painful feelings of isolation, becoming disconnected from others, and feeling as though you do not belong.
Loneliness has also been connected with high blood pressure, sleep issues, diminished immunity, and risk factors for heart disease.
Receiving social and emotional support from others can enable you to better cope with problems on your own by boosting your self-esteem and sense of independence.
You do not require an extensive network of close friends and family to benefit from social and emotional support. Some people benefit from having mutual trust and friendship among just a few people, such as neighbours, co-workers, or other parents that you have met through parenting groups or mommy and me classes.
If you struggle to connect, try not to give up; forging new connections and friendships is possible. Seek other women who are facing a similar transition into motherhood. It can be reassuring to hear that others share the same feelings, worries, and insecurities.
Try out baby and toddler classes, join your local mom’s Facebook group, or download Peanut or Mush apps to connect with other parents nearby. Your paediatrician can also recommend available resources in your neighbourhood.
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