What is Postpartum Depression?
Adding a New Baby to Your Family Can Be a Major Adjustment
Whether you are bringing home your first baby or your fourth, this new little life can be beautiful and all-consuming at the same time. You feel overwhelmed, exhausted, cry so easily, and no longer feel interested in the things you used to love.
When you talked with your friends during your pregnancy, they told you that caring for a newborn would be hard, and now you’re thinking to yourself, “Well, this must be what my friends were talking about.” It can be very easy to try to attribute these feelings to “This is just how it is,” but there may be something bigger going on.
Recognizing Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression affects one in seven moms, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time mom or you’ve already had children. Postpartum depression can be present after some pregnancies and may not show symptoms after others. Too often, women suffer from the symptoms of postpartum depression in silence because they may be afraid to admit just how much they are suffering.
Does any of this sound familiar to you?
“I just had a new baby – I should feel happy.”
“They will think I’m a bad mom because I feel disconnected from my child.”
“Having a new baby is hard, so this must be how all moms feel.”
So, how do you know if what you are experiencing is postpartum depression? It is not the same thing as the “baby blues.”
With postpartum depression, symptoms may include:
· A depressed mood most of the day and almost daily
· Loss of interest in things
· Loss of feelings of joy or pleasure
· Changes in weight or appetite
· Difficulty sleeping
· Fatigue or low energy
· Feelings of worthlessness
· Excessive feelings of guilt
· Difficulty concentrating
· Recurrent thoughts of self-harm, death or suicide
Some of these symptoms can be challenging to distinguish from the adjusting-to-a-new-baby phase. You may feel exhausted with no energy…but is this because the baby is waking up frequently at night or because you are struggling with postpartum depression?
It’s normal to experience some of these things for a short time, but postpartum depression symptoms may look a little more extreme, such as:
· Feeling like you can’t cope with the overwhelm
· Feeling a lack of connection to your baby
· Struggling to care for yourself, your family or your baby
· Wanting to isolate and socially withdraw
· Becoming easily agitated or irritable
· Experiencing a sense of “this just doesn’t feel like me”
· Physical symptoms that may include headaches, back pain or gastrointestinal problems
If it has been more than two weeks since you’ve given birth and you are experiencing these symptoms, you may be struggling with postpartum depression.
What should you do if you think you are suffering from postpartum depression?
Let your family or partner know how you are feeling.
It is important for your support system to be aware that you are struggling. You may not know what you need from them, but it is important for them to know you don’t feel like yourself and that you need help. If they offer to step in to help with tasks to alleviate some of the overwhelm, allow them to take some of that burden off of you.
Talk with your OB-GYN or midwife.
Your care provider needs and wants to know how you are feeling mentally and emotionally. Too often, the care for moms after delivery takes a back seat as the needs of the baby tend to be top priority. Call your doctor’s office or schedule an in-person or telehealth visit to express your concerns over how you have been feeling. Your doctor may recommend medication to help with the feelings of postpartum depression. Some women’s clinics have therapists or counselors on staff and your doctor may recommend you be seen by someone within their practice.
Meet with an online therapist or counselor.
When you are feeling depressed, the thought of having to get ready and leave the house, especially with a baby, can feel absolutely overwhelming. By meeting with an online counselor, you can receive the mental and emotional support you need from the comfort of your house. Being able to talk with a mental health professional about your thoughts and feelings can help bring relief from some of the depressive symptoms you are experiencing. Online therapy can be such a great fit for moms because it allows you to get the counseling support you need without having to worry about childcare or traveling somewhere else.
Begin Online Therapy for Postpartum Depression in Colorado, Hawaii, Florida or Louisiana
It can take time to adjust to a new child. But, you shouldn’t have to continue suffering from postpartum depression. I would be honored to support you in working through all the emotions you feel during this exciting time. I offer support for clients living in Colorado, Hawaii, Florida and Louisiana. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:
Schedule a free 15-minute consult via phone or video
Start healing from the comfort of home!
Other Services Offered with Ashley Comegys, LCSW
I offer many services for women in Colorado, Hawaii, Florida and Louisiana. This includes therapy for anxiety, online postpartum depression treatment, online postpartum support, and online depression treatment. I also offer online grief counseling for women, online therapy for military spouses, and online trauma treatment for women. Visit my blog or about page to learn more today!