After giving birth, a woman's life changes dramatically, especially if it is firstborn. But depression can come with the birth of a second or third child.
And not always her relatives can recognize her, and even more so the young mother herself.
Please refer to this checklist to make sure you are okay.
1. Sadness comes and goes
Everyone has a bad mood, but if your mood is replaced by a good and calm one, then everything is fine.
2. Appetite and sleep are normal
Because of the newborn, you may not have time to sleep and eat, but the appetite itself should be on the usual level, and sleepiness - to pass if you got a little longer than usual, took a nap during the day or drank coffee.
3. No suicidal thoughts
Normally, a mother should not have scary thoughts about harming herself or her baby. But about 25% of women catch themselves on such thoughts with no real exercise.
That is, the thoughts themselves are not scary, if they do not become intrusive, do not turn into a plan, do not find excuses and arguments in your mind.4. You can recuperate
If you checked out, took a bath or lay down for a couple of hours with a book, sewing, or your favorite TV show, you rested and recovered. This is the norm. But if no favorite activities bring joy, strength never appears, no matter how much you sleep, then this is a very alarming sign.
5. You know you can handle
Something you do not succeed, something in motherhood enrages, but in general you understand that this role is within your reach. You are a caring mom and give your best.
Even when it is difficult or impossible to calm down a crying child, you do not see yourself, but you know that your presence and love for him is still the most and the best that he can at the moment get.
In turn, postpartum depression is characterized by a constant feeling of guilt, a feeling that motherhood is "not my "that I cannot give anything to my child, that such thoughts are also bad, and in general I am a useless mother and etc.
You will also be interested to read:
- Zero Mom: 7 Ways to Cope with Burnout
- How to provide a child's body with vitamins and water
- 5 Signs Your Stress Is Dangerous
