Postpartum Depression

Postpartum Depression(PPD) is real. For any female who thinks logically all the time, post baby life can be miserable and it takes months to overcome depression. Insomnia, expectations, obesity and new responsibility leaves a woman confused and helpless. The new life of no sleep and thousands of orthodox views and opinions on how to handle a baby takes a toll on emotional and physical health. The highly aggravated hormones give into depression eventually.

Lamenting over how one can avoid being distressed, finally I jot down helpful pointers below.

I request any pregnant women or new mothers to go thru below ways prudently to avoid PPD. Well, heads up it’s a very long post.

Message inside a Changing Room

Have a Healthy Pregnancy:

The number one reason for depression post pregnancy is excess weight. Most of the women are depressed and loss their confidence because of drastic changes in the body.

First step is to choose food smartly during pregnancy itself. Avoid junk food and consume green leafy vegetables, lots of dal, milk and everything good for health. Cut down sugar and salt as much as you can. Keep a check on cravings and indulge rarely.

Cut down junk

If you don’t put-on much, you won’t regret. But if you have put on a lot and it’s causing depression, be patient and give time, a lot of time. You will be back to shape.

Diet Post Pregnancy:

Again post pregnancy everyone bombards you with what to eat or what not to.

No need to have hot water in hot weather just because some advised. 

Kindly use your mind and do not avoid specific food until doctor recommends.

Choose your palate wisely post pregnancy, you need healthy food and not fatty foods. Dry fruits, jaggery and certain other condiments are for your good health, but do not make this your staple food.

Also do eat healthy if you want good skin, hair and health. You definitely don’t want hair fall problem later.

Refer ‘Post Pregnancy Diet’ for healthy diet post pregnancy. This helps to boost breastmilk while keeping weight in check.

Listen to everyone but question when in doubt:

If you think you are bugged with weird advice throughout your pregnancy, well don’t be alarmed as post pregnancy it only gets worse. Whatever you do might be wrong according to elders or any experienced friend. Lots of advice will pour in teaching how to handle a baby. Listen to everyone but do only what your common sense tells you. You are a mature human and a mother now. In doubt confirm with a paediatrician first.

Family Support and New Life:

As if insomnia, unhealed stitches and body, new responsibility and advices are not enough, some irrational husbands or in-laws cause more pain to new mothers. Hence instead of healing soon, the emotional mother ends up with disrupted process of recovery.

My husband and whole family is very sensible, supportive and caring, so I didn’t face this problem but I have seen instances where there is drift between couples because some senseless husbands do not take care of their wife and new baby..

How to avoid such situation? Stay with your parents for delivery and sometime after that.

Breastmilk and Food:

Ok so as soon as baby is born, everyone pesters the new mom to feed only breastmilk. Though the benefits are endless but don’t be gloomy and sad if you can’t feed your baby. Ignore what others say and do what doctors recommend.

Coming back to food, certain food items do boost the flow but still no scientific evidence for same. Nevertheless new moms just eat everything advised by elders to have good supply.

Eat it all :)

Well I didn’t have anything specific to increase the supply and my baby was exclusively on breastmilk till 6months, yes no water or formula, only bm. Even now there is excess supply and yes to deny all myths, I do have ice-creams, fruit juices, cauliflower, curd, Chinese food, coffee and everything in moderation. No food causes gas or any problem to baby and it doesn’t affect breastmilk supply.

Read importance of breastmilk and how to increase breastmilk at How to increase breastmilk.

The 40 days confinement period:

There is a reason you should take rest for 40 days. Your stitches and body needs to heal. It takes a lot more time in reality, 40 days are nothing. The less you go out, the less chances of infection. Try bonding with baby, build dreams for new life ahead, learn to be selfless and try to be positive. Always remember ‘This too shall pass’.

Tackle Myths:

There are lots of myths like you can’t drink cold water else baby will catch cold or wear socks or cover ears even when you are drenched in sweat.

Just be smart enough to say ‘No’ to certain myths and forced food habits and anything that can harm your baby (like using hot water for bay bath, massaging private parts, taking out witch milk from baby’s nipples, cleaning baby’s tongue, nose, ears and applying milk/bread/flour uptan to make baby fair, all these are a complete no-no).

You are a grownup sensible human, don’t hurt anyone but also don’t agree to bullshit. As I always say use your motherly instinct, common sense and learn to say ‘No’. You cannot be happy pleasing everyone.

Constant Comparison:

You will always find people comparing kids. There will be sarcasm and indirectly comparison. What should you do? Ignore. Just ignore when they comment on how thin, inactive or small your baby looks. Ignore when they site example of what they did to their babies and ignore any unwanted advice.

Same applies to you, don’t compare what other moms are doing, how they look and how you look, trust me everyone has some or other problem. Best thing to do in life is to relax, have good food at home and enjoy every moment with your baby. 

Yes you will wake up a lot, will get no time for yourself, will have to listen everything from everyone, but you brought a new life to earth so chuck everything and do what actually is right ! You will find inner peace.

You are not alone. Every female faces PPD. Kindly talk to someone you are very close to, to get rid of it. Talking is the best therapy.

Live. Love. Laugh.