Depressed After Your Bundle of Joy?

You grew that bundle of cuteness for 9 months. You pushed them out. Now you get to snuggle and smell your bundle of joy. So why do you feel off? Why are you struggling to be happy?

Post partum depression (PPD) is such a real thing. So many women experience PPD. Many women may not understand what is happening and be confused.

To be clear that I am not a professional. I am a mom and wife that has depression. I have gone through PPD 5 times. It doesn’e get easier but more manageable.

After having a baby there are so many things going on in your mind and body. If you are feeling any of these symptoms below please contact your OBGYN:

• Feeling Blue, hopeless, sad after two weeks of delivery or if the feelings get more intense
• Guilt or sadness comsume your thoughts
• Frequent crying for what seems like no reason
• Loss of joy in things you previously found joy in
• Feel unhappy about being a parent
• Worry about not being a good parent
• Feeling down on yourself
• Have a hard time making decisions: too tired, don’t care, etc.
• Sleep patterns and habits have change, beyond having a newborn
• Having other big and/or stressful changes in your life
• Thoughts of harming yourself or you baby

The above is not a complete list. If you have one or more of the above symptons if it important to talk to your doctor or someone you trust.

Now, let’s get into some ways that you can help yourself if you are depressed after birth.

7 Ways To Help When You Have PPD

Let People Help You

You may want to do it all on your own. But you don’t have to. Let as many people help as you feel comfortable with. If someone asks what they can do: let them bring a meal, run an errand, hold your baby while you sleep, etc.

They are asking because they have been there or truly want to hlep. LET THEM!

Sleep

You are tired! Tired with a capital T! The only way to get over being tired is to sleep as much as you can. Your baby has gone down for a nap. If you can also nap, DO IT! Same goes for bedtime.

This is harder when you have other kiddos. But guess what they will love a chance to watch a show. Put one on and nap right next to them. Let them play with friends or family so you can nap.

Prepare

You have 9 months to get ready to have a baby. Then once that baby comes it’s a total game changer. Why not have some things ready and prepared beforehand?

Make freezer meals, do a deep clean (or hire someone to do it for you), go on a mini vacation with your love or family, get things ready to entertain your other kids, plan as much as you can before your baby comes to make it easy on yourself.

Get Outside

This is such a simple way to help yourself when you are depressed after your bundle of joy. However, it can be hard if you don’t want to get up or out. Just do it! Walk outside and take a few deep breaths. Put your baby in the stroller and take a slow walk.

Being outside can do lots of wonders on your soul. Seeing the sun (even in winter) will help put a smile on your face. Try to spend a few minutes every day outside.

Creat a Support Team

You are not the first or last women to have a baby. But it is VERY SPECIAL for you! Cheerish as much as you can with your little bundle of joy. One way to help do this is to create a support team to step in when you need it.

Some people who would love to help might be:

• hubby/significant other
• mom
• mother in law
• sisters
• sisiters in law
• neighbors
• friends
• therapist
• older chilren

Lower Expectations

Okay ladies! This is probably one of the best tips. Why? Because if you are anything like me or millions of other women than we want to try to do it all or die trying. So that may be an exaggeration…

But serisouly, lower your expectations once your bundle of joy comes. You don’t need to shower and get ready everyday. A clean house? Forget about it. 8 hours of sleep? Nope, not going to happen.

You are going to feel like you are barely hanging on. And that is okay! I repeat, it is okay to feel like you are getting nothing done.

Want to know a secert? You sure are getting things done! They may not be on your to do list.

But you are keeping a tiny human alive. You are loving them, feeding them, holding them. You might possibly be keeping other little humans alive too.

This phase of extreme tiredness and PPD will pass. You can do this! Please hang on and know that there will be light at the end. You may pass this phase on your own. You may need to get help from professionals or possibly medication.

It is okay! You may feel great and then wake up one day depressed. Or even one moment notice you are depressed. You are enough and are doing a great job.

Your little bundle of joy is so blessed to have you. Give that cute bundle of joy and extra squeeze because it goes by so fast. 🙂

Xxx, Steph

Here are some other blog posts that might be good resources:

• Depression While Pregnant
• 10 Tips to Help When Depressed While Pregnant
• Depression Surprised You?
• Depression Triggers: What Are They and How to Find Yours
• 10 Tips to Help With Depression Triggers
• What Simplifying, Working Out, and Travel Have in Common With Depression?

Here is my FREE 5 day Self Help Course that will give you loads of helpful and actionable things to do right now to help with PPD.