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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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.
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.
