Becoming a mother can be one of the most exciting and meaningful times in a woman’s life, but it also comes with plenty of stress and new challenges. Learning to cope with postpartum stress can help you fully enjoy your moments with your baby, and take the best possible care of your baby and yourself.
First, it helps to know that postpartum stress is extremely common among first-time mothers. Especially with your first child, your life suddenly becomes completely different from before. Feeling stressed while adjusting to a new normal is entirely natural.
Postpartum stress has many causes, including caring for your baby, getting ready to go back to work, exhaustion, having no time to recover, changes in your body after the birth, problems that come up in your relationship with your partner after the baby arrives,…
Here are 6 ways to cope with postpartum stress:
Don’t try to handle everything alone
One of the first things to learn as a mother is how to ask for help, and how to accept it. Don’t see yourself as a supermom who can do everything alone.
Many mothers feel that asking others for help is shameful, a sign that they have failed as a mother. The truth is that everyone has hard times, and asking for help is completely normal.
So lean on your partner, your parents and in-laws, extended family or friends when you can. This not only eases the pressure on you, it also lets you take better care of yourself and your baby.
Keep up a healthy diet
As a mother, you may be busy and have little time for yourself. That is why keeping up a healthy diet every day is a perfect way to take care of yourself. A healthy diet is also a solid foundation for dealing with stress.
For new mothers, eating well can also help keep up your energy, reduce tiredness and prevent constipation. Also remember to include foods with fiber, such as fruit, vegetables and whole grains, to help prevent hemorrhoids.
Move your body regularly
Dr. Sherry Ross, a women’s health expert, advises that “regular exercise can improve mental health, relieve stress, improve depression and anxiety, and help you sleep better”.
Staying active does not mean you have to do strict workouts every day. You can keep it flexible: go for a walk with your baby, get some fresh air, or do a few simple exercises at home that raise your heart rate. This is one of the best ways to relieve some postpartum stress.
Rest as much as you can
It sounds like a simple answer, but in reality finding time to rest and recover after the birth is quite hard.
To avoid exhaustion after the birth, rest as much as you can. Whenever your baby sleeps, you should sleep too.
If your baby tends to be restless and often wakes at night, ask for help, or share the evening shifts of looking after your baby with your partner or another family member.
Recognize the symptoms of postpartum depression
Postpartum stress is different from postpartum depression. It is important to recognize the signs of postpartum depression so you do not mistake one for the other.
- Postpartum stress is the process of adjusting to your role as a mother and adapting to the changes in your life after having a baby.
- Postpartum depression involves more serious symptoms. It makes you feel worthless, unable to find joy, quick to become emotional, and anxious. If your postpartum stress is not brought under control, it can lead to depression or an anxiety disorder.
Get help from a doctor or a professional
Don’t hesitate to talk with an obstetrician-gynecologist or a mental health professional for advice if you are still struggling after the birth and cannot manage on your own. If low mood or loss of interest lasts more than two weeks, see a doctor soon. If you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, you do not have to carry this alone: tell someone near you straight away, call 115 (Vietnam’s emergency number) or go to the nearest emergency department, and do not wait for your next check-up.
References: https://gvobgyn.com/ways-to-handle-postpartum-stress/
