Tips For Dealing With Postnatal Depression

*This is a collaborative post* 

Not every mum suffers from postnatal depression (the baby blues) after giving birth, but many do. Whether you’ve had a home birth, given birth in hospital or had your baby at a private maternity hospital like Guys & St Thomas, the one thing you can’t control about your birth experience, is the hormones and emotions you will experience after.

Feelings of sadness and depression can become part of the whirlwind of emotions that take place due to the hormonal imbalance that exists after pregnancy. In some cases, symptoms of postnatal depression will only last for a few weeks, but for some Mums, these symptoms can drag on for months. 

It can be a real nightmare, especially as those first few weeks after giving birth are supposed to be joyous ones. Thankfully, those feelings will eventually wear off, but in the meantime, there is much you can do if you aren’t feeling yourself. Here are some tips for dealing with postnatal depression. 

Speak to your doctor

This is the most effective thing you can do, as your doctor will suggest a treatment plan for you. You might be prescribed certain medications, and counselling might be suggested too. Your doctor will also act as a listening ear for the worries you are having, so this in itself could alleviate the way you feel. So, don’t brush your feelings of depression aside. Book that appointment with your GP as soon as you can, as the help you receive should be invaluable.

Try a natural remedy

There are all kinds of natural remedies that have proven qualities to combat feelings of depression. chamomile (and green) tea, St. John’s wort, and a variety of other herbal remedies available from your local health store can alleviate the way you feel. However, as effective as some of these remedies are, your doctor should always be your first port of call. They will advise you on what is and isn’t safe for you, so do book that appointment to benefit from their experienced advice.

Exercise your body

Of course, you won’t feel like exercising much after having your baby. And nor should you, as your body does need time to heal and rest. However, you should attempt to move around a little, as both the physical activity and the fresh air you receive if you exercise outside can do much to elevate your mood. So, take your baby out for a walk in the stroller, potter around your garden, relieve your partner of some of the housework duties you have given him to do, and follow these tips on how to get back into exercise as a new mum. As long as you don’t push yourself beyond your limits (ask your doctor for advice), you should feel a little better as a result.

Eat a healthy diet

Common sense will tell you that a diet of junk foods and sugar will do little to remedy how you’re feeling, even if they do give you momentary feelings of pleasure. So, be sensible with your food choices, and eat those mood-busting foods that will relieve you of your depression symptoms. Go for your usual fruit and veggies, and anything else overloaded with the essential vitamins and nutrients your body needs. And make a meal plan for the week to help you with your shopping, as you will then be less tempted to ring for that takeaway in the middle of the week when your cupboards are looking empty.

Make time to rest

Yes, we know you will be busy caring for your baby’s needs, but self-care is important. Bring in mother-in-law to help you with your duties, and offload some of them to your partner. Then take time out for yourself so you can relax, put your feet up, and take the occasional nap. And be sure to get a good night’s sleep too, perhaps by asking your partner to take some responsibility for your little one if they wake early in the night. You will then wake feeling fully rested, and your renewed and relaxed mind should do much to improve the way you feel.

Don’t be alone

Your symptoms can feel worse when you’re alone, despite having your baby with you. Your fraught state might also make you question your worth as a mother, and this could elevate your feelings of depression. So, don’t isolate yourself. Be with other Mums, perhaps at a local baby group. Hang out with your friends. And call on your family for support when you need them. When you’re with other people you will feel less fragile and alone, and you will also have people to talk and have a laugh with, which in itself is a good way to fight feelings of depression.

So, we hope these tips were useful to you, but let me know what you think. And if you have ever experienced postnatal depression, let us know what you did to improve the way you felt.