Is it low mood? or is it postnatal depression?
“Looking back on things I think had postnatal depression (PND), I just didn’t know it. “
This is something I hear in practice, through my friendship circle, and my own personal experience. The stats say that 1 in 10 women experience PND, however I believe this number is a lot higher. The first three months of becoming a new mum is for many a real blur, and it will depend on your personality, support and the needs of your baby as to how you navigate through this time.
We live in an era that recognises PND, but we also live in a time where there is so much knowledge and information at our fingertips that the pressure to not make mistakes is more than ever. This pressure only feeds anxiety and depression surrounding “not being good enough” as a mother.
Aim to shift the mindset.
Our body’s are amazing at healing and regenerating, and our baby’s are more robust and forgiving than we realise. So if you can take some pressure off of being the perfect new mum, and to turn your focus to SELF CARE, LOVE, and what you did WELL that day as a mother, instead of what product we need to BUY to fix something, HATE, and all the things that you were RUBBISH at that day or didn’t get done, then when the baby sleeps we are not so much an emotional wreck.
I am not a mental health professional, however I help people everyday and refer people when needed.
Three things that you can do if you feel like you are at an all time low, or obsessively worry over the smallest things:
Schedule some time out, even if it is only 1-2 hours you will feel better for it!
Move your body- Get out in the fresh air everyday.
Journal or meditate- Even if you don’t feel in the mood, sometimes just sitting in a quiet space (no baby crying) and writing things down instead of letting them go around in your head can be the best thing you do all day.
There are probably millions of new mums out there right now who are not taking medication, or seeking help for PND, but are on “struggle street” right now trying to keep their mind on track. If this is you I hear you and I see you. I have worked with 100s of women through this period and love being their guide through the 4th Trimester. I would love to support you through this time.
My 4th Trimester guide will:
Take the pressure off you
Focus on self care and baby care
Look at baby development and your healing
Help you find what is right for you, so you can trust your gut
Help you to cancel out some of the noise around you
Support you to find your strength and values as a mother
Here’s a link to explore further.
See you there
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Emma