Are you a new mom wondering if the postpartum emotions you are feeling are normal or are you pregnant and wondering what to expect from postpartum emotions after birth? Keep reading, friend, because this is exactly what you are looking for.
Being a newly postpartum mom comes with every emotion you can possibly imagine: love for your new baby, happiness, exhaustion, overwhelm, and at times even sadness.
This post will discuss everything you can expect from postpartum emotions including information on what to expect in the weeks following your baby’s birth, the difference between postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression, and some tips on how to deal with postpartum emotions.
This post is all about postpartum emotions that every new mom needs to know about.
I have been hesitant to talk about this subject because every mom’s postpartum experience is different, but as a mom who experienced postpartum anxiety, I feel postpartum emotions is one of the most important topics to write about.
Social media has a sneaky way of making everyone’s life look perfect when the reality can be far from it. Many women, myself included, feel so alone going through postpartum emotions after the birth of their baby. Society tells us that we are supposed to be happy but that is not always the case…
In the next few sections, we are going to talk about common postpartum emotions every mother experiences as well as go into details about the “baby blues”, postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression as well as some natural things you can do to help ease the postpartum emotions.
Common Postpartum Emotions
Every new mom experiences a rollercoaster of emotions following the birth of her child. One minute you are the happiest parent in the world and the next you may be feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.
It is important that remember that your hormones are going crazy after birth, your lifestyle has changed overnight and you probably are not getting the sleep that you are used to. It can be a lot for anyone to handle, let alone a mother who just went through birth!
Regardless of how your baby came into the world, it is normal to feel that rollercoaster of emotions from hour to hour and day to day. No two days are the same with newborns and that is part of the fun of it 🙂
But I want you to know that every emotion you are feeling is valid and other moms are going through it too, they just might not openly talk about it.
Baby Blues
So what are the baby blues?
The baby blues is a term used to describe the short period of time following your child’s birth where you may feel sad, worried, irritable, moody, overwhelmed, trapped and may cry a lot.
It is triggered by the physical and emotional changes following birth as well as the plummeting of levels of estrogen and progesterone (that were high during pregnancy).
It is normal to feel anxious about your baby as you adjust to your new role as mom and the world around you seems to change overnight.
The baby blues affect up to 80% of mothers but usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.
Related: 30 Insanely Good Newborn Tips for the First 30 Days
Postpartum Anxiety
Postpartum anxiety (PPA) takes the baby blues a step further…
Being a new mom can be stressful but those with postpartum anxiety usually have overwhelming, irrational worry that does not go away on its own after a few weeks like the baby blues. In other words, it can be described as new mom concerns but on a more extreme and persistent level.
Although it is not talked about nearly enough, postpartum anxiety affects so many women.
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety include:
- Constant worry that is hard to forget about
- Feelings of dread or excessive worry that something bad will happen to the baby
- Overwhelming sense of burden, stress or concern
- Difficulty sleeping (even when baby is sleeping)
- Racing thoughts
- Nausea
- Shaking or trembling
- Hyperventilation
- Elevated heartbeat, rapid breathing and/or panic attacks
Other Things You Need to Know About Postpartum Anxiety:
There are so many factors that can influence a mom to develop this type of postpartum emotions but some of the most common include: hormonal shifts after giving birth, sleep deprivation, lifestyle or relationship changes post birth, societal pressures on new moms to be “perfect”, having a history of anxiety, having a premature baby, or previous experience with a miscarriage.
Postpartum anxiety does not last forever but I encourage you to reach out to your doctor at the first signs of extreme worry or if you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above.
You may attribute your postpartum emotions to the baby blues but if it is something more than that, it is good to a support system in place.
Therapy (virtual or in person) is a great place to start and your doctor can provide you with a few names of therapists in your area.
Related: Bottle Feeding Tips for New Moms
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a more serious condition that many women experience during the first year after giving birth.
Having a baby is a major, life-changing event but for some women, profound feelings of sadness, overwhelm and a lack of interest in the baby or life in general persist.
Symptoms of Postpartum Depression include:
- Crying
- Insomnia or wanting to sleep all day
- Extremes of eating – loss of appetite or wanting to eat everything
- Intense irritability
- Difficulty bonding with baby
- Severe anxiety
- Loss of interest in doing things you used to love
- Excessive worry about your baby’s health
- Inability to care for yourself or your baby
- Little interest in or negative thoughts towards your baby
- Fear of being alone with your baby
- Social isolation
- Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness or helplessness
Postpartum depression typically lasts for several weeks, months or even a year and usually requires
A mother with postpartum depression may feel embarrassed or ashamed about not being perfectly happy after having a baby or feel that others would judge her if they knew all the struggles she was going through behind closed doors.
I want you to know that postpartum depression is extremely common and it is not your fault. It also in no way makes you a bad mom. PPD can occur regardless of her circumstances, and you would actually be surprised by how many of your friends probably dealt with it too.
It is important to be open and honest with your family about what is going on and to reach out for help. Your doctor is a really good place to start and can set you up with a therapist and/or medicine if he/she feels it would benefit you. There are also support groups and other forms of therapy that your doctor may recommend as well.
Natural Ways to Ease Postpartum Emotions
- Get sleep.
- Ask for help.
- Go for a walk.
- Give yourself grace.
- Talk to other mom friends.
- Set small goals for yourself.
- Eat healthy, regular meals and snacks.
- Take small breaks from the baby.
- Avoid overdoing anything.
- Delegate household duties
- Let your partner/friends/family know how you are feeling.
- Trust your instincts! You were made to be this baby’s mom.
- Expect a mix of good days and bad days.
- Do not compare yourself to others or feel guilty.
- Know that this is an adjustment period.
This post is all about postpartum emotions that every new mom needs to know about.
[…] The Shocking Truth About Postpartum Emotions Every New Mom Needs To Know About […]