How to Deal With Postpartum Depression

The "baby blues" affect 60 to 80 percent of postpartum women. Most overcome or cope with the mild feelings of depression and move on to the joys of raising their child. However, for some women, the feelings of depression, anxiety or frustration don't go away and they are left feeling overwhelmed and guilty. If you or someone you know is suffering from postpartum depression, take it seriously and get help.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Answering Machines
• Bath Oils
• Bubble Baths
• Aluminum Cookpots
• Freezer Containers
• Plastic Freezer Bags
• Exercise Mats
• Postpartum Workout Video
• Postpartum Yoga Video

1. Treat yourself right. Know that you are not alone in this struggle. Being a mother, especially a first-time mother, is hard and demanding. It takes a lot of personal sacrifice for the first three to six months, but it will get easier.

2. Sleep. Heed the old saying, "Sleep when your baby sleeps." Let the answering machine pick up the phone and have your husband return calls.

3. Ask for help. Let a neighbor make you dinner. Have your mother-in-law watch the baby while you sleep, shop, exercise or take a bath. Find a person you trust to watch the baby on days you just can't take it. If you know other people with young children, they will be more than happy to help. Chances are they have been in your shoes.

4. Share your feelings with other women. Find someone you can talk to and let it all hang out. Cry, vent, complain - let them know how hard this is for you and that you appreciate them letting you get things off your chest.

5. Join a support group. If you don't have anyone to talk with and can't find a group on your own, call your local hospital. Chances are the maternity ward will be able to point you in the right direction.

6. Exercise. Increased metabolism is a result of exercise and will significantly improve your frame of mind and health. Try walking for 10 minutes every morning and gradually work up to a speed and time that fits your schedule.

7. Take time to look good. Sometimes looking good makes you feel good. Put on some makeup if you usually wear it. Go to the mall and buy a new outfit. Change your hairstyle. Go to a salon and get a facial or manicure. Spend time on you.

8. Eat right. Eat breakfast every day - it's a good start. Stay away from caffeine and sugar; they'll give you a quick boost, but you'll crash after they wear off. Keep plenty of fresh fruit on hand. Fruit is a natural energy booster.

9. Buy a book about postpartum depression and read it. There are many women out there who suffer from this disease every day. Find the resources to help yourself or ask someone you are close with to help you.

Tips & Warnings

• Make a list of things to do when you are feeling down. Some items on your list might include: lie in the sun (but wear sunblock!), take a bath, read, go shopping, go to lunch, invite a friend over, go for a walk, or exercise.
• Make meals ahead of time and freeze them for the days you just can't get it together. You will have something to throw in the oven for dinner. Better yet, ask friends to make meals and freeze them for later.
• Do the laundry once a week. Don't clean if you don't feel up to it; it can wait. Put off thank-you cards until you feel like doing them. Pretend you're not home when unexpected visitors arrive, or politely ask them to come another time.
• Seek professional help immediately if you have thoughts of suicide or a desire to do harm to your baby. If you actually do harm your baby, call a crisis line or your partner and ask for help immediately. These are not feelings to mess around with. Don't feel guilty about the way you feel. There are people who can and will help you to overcome feelings of deep depression.

Who Can Help:

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[poeCHICK25]

on 5/31/2008 Even in the best of circumstances having a baby and dealing with depression is hard. No doubt you have some challenges ahead of you but if I could encourage you in anything it would be to seek help from God. When we've reached the end of ourselves and there's no one to turn to Jesus is there. I've been going through postpartum depression myself and were it not for my relationship with Jesus I don't think I could make it through the day. No matter what you've done He loves you and wants to help you get through this. My husband and I are youth pastors and we've seen other young ladies in your situation and my heart goes out to you. One of my dear friends went through a situation like yours where she was on her own raising a baby but by God's grace she got through it. Hang in there. Don't do it alone. Seek out the help you need from family, friends, support groups. And remember that your ch

[MizzBabi_gurl16]

on 6/24/2007 hay there,
reading all this gives me some sort of comfort though i'm freaking out i'm going to be having my first baby and i'm 16. I'm not with the father of the baby so i guess i'm doing it all on my own. I freak out because i feel like i've got nothing to offer my baby, it saddens me because now i feel i have to give him away and it gets really depressing and though i try to stay strong for me and my baby it's times where i feel down i just don't think i can go on. If anyone has any advice could you please leave your comment.
thanks

[esther8]

on 3/9/2007 im not so sure if i have postpardum but i will say what i know, im a very young mom im only 21, and had my first nine months ago, and honeslty i have to say everyone told me how hard being a mother was, how your not gonna get any sleep your lucky if you get any time for yourself, and how your whole life is about her, and just taking care and watching her, well imust say this got me very depressed for i saw my life as pretty much over which threw me into a deep depression not feeling like my life would ever be the same ,i felt like a zombie just living my life like slave not happy, well before this (my pregnancy), i must say i was a very independent girl, i was raised by my mother, not my father and grew very strong and independent of myself and i like that, im avery pensive person and from time to time i need time to gather my thoughts and see where iam at in life and where i wanna go and where i want to be, am also a christian person i would take this time to talk to God and meditate. well with this new baby i thought i would lose this precious time that had become my way of escape and rest from this world, it kept me sane it kept my head on the right shoulder, well since everyone came sayin that i would barely have for even a shower; i freaked!!!! and threw me into a state of mind where, confusion, not even time think ruled and where i hated being a mom and hated being a wife, and it just hurt me and husband and resented the baby , well i was like this all because of what people said, so i say to you if people are doing this to you dont listen to them, they're making harder than it looks, well what took me out of my depression was honestly praying and God, and thankfully i came to the reallization that nothing was supposed to change, nothing was out of normal, i was still the young girl i know, i could still have my time to think, or even read or exercise or whatever, and i reallized how many loved one where there to help take care of her while i did my own thing, well this realiation, has been a Godsend, iam now a better mother and enjoy my time with her, and i find it not so much burdensome as i used to i even dont mind waking up in the middle of the night to make her bottle because i love her so much, honestly speaking please if your similar to my story, please reallize that you can have whatever you need to do or whatever you need to be, whether it be time, or sleep or whatever, you are still you and that baby needs that loving you, not some crazy stressed out person. to me the phrase nothing has changed has changed my life for the better.

on 11/22/2005 I had my second baby 17 years after my first. I felt I couldn't do it on my own again. I felt helpless and depressed. What got me out of it was to focus on the cute things and the fun things about the baby. Try to find joy in the little things.

on 11/22/2005 I am a clinical nurse specializing in endocrinology (hormones). Read "FEED YOUR NEED" to CURE postpartum depression. It really does work!