Postpartum Depression, Mood Swings: How can new moms deal with these issues?

May 14, 2022, 02:23 PM
by Parvin Akter

UNB News
Publish- May 14, 2022, 02:23 PM
Parvin Akter
Update- May 14, 2022, 02:53 PM

Postpartum Depression, Mood Swings: How can new moms deal with these issues?

A mother suffering from Postpartum Depression (Representational Image: Collected)

Some women experience postpartum depression after giving birth. It not only causes extreme sadness and despair but also lead towards physical, emotional, and behavioral change. It usually begins within 4 weeks after delivery. It is a severe mental illness.

The mood swing is also related to postpartum depression. This familiar concept is used to describe rapidly and intensely fluctuating emotions. People compare mood swings to a “roller coaster” of feelings from happiness and contentment to anger, irritability, and even depression. Here we are going discyss the causes, symptoms and reasons of postpartum depression and mood swings.Don't miss this article if you are a new mom suffering from postpartum depression or mood swings.

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Postpartum depression and mood swings: common causes, reasons, and symptoms

Comparison of causes, symptoms and reasons between postpartum depression and postpartum mood swings.

	Postpartum Depression	Mood Swing
Cause	Hormones: The drop of Hormones after giving birth may play an important role to make you feel tired, sluggish, and depressed. Lack of sleep: With a newborn baby naturally the mother doesn't get sufficient sleep which ultimately makes you overwhelmed and so you may not handle even minor problems. Anxiety: Like the moms of older kids, a new mom may be anxious about her ability to care for her newborn. Self-image: After delivery a new mom may feel less attractive and so she struggles with her sense of Identity. Ultimately, the new mom may feel that she has lost control over her life.	- Premenstrual syndrome - Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) - Stress - Psychiatric causes - Hormone imbalances - Puberty - Pregnancy - Menopause
Symptoms	- Depressed mood - Excessive crying - Difficulty bonding with the newborn baby - Withdrawing from family and friends - Loss of taste or eating much more than the mom used to eat usually - Inability to sleep or sleeping too much - Loss of energy - Lack of interest and pleasure in activities you love to do - Intense irritability and anger - Fear that she is not a good mother - Hopelessness - Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt, or inadequacy - Feeling inability to think clearly, and make decisions - Restlessness - Severe anxiety and panic attacks - Thoughts of harming her oneself or the newborn baby - Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide	- Feeling sad, hopeless, and worthless - Failing to enjoy favorite activities - Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much - Feeling exhausted, tired, and fatigued - Having difficulty concentrating - Experiencing thoughts of death or suicide
Reasons	- Having a history of depression - Feeling bipolar disorder - Experiencing postpartum depression after a previous pregnancy - Experiencing stressful events (like illness, or job loss) regarding pregnancy. - Baby's health problems - Having twins or multiple births - Experiencing difficulty breastfeeding - Going through bad relationships with her spouse or partner - Having a weak support system - Feeling financial problems - The pregnancy was unplanned or unwanted - Living alone - Marital conflict	- Bipolar Disorder - Sleep -Deprivation - Low Blood Sugar - Certain Medications - Thyroid Issues - Caffeine - Too Much Sugar - Depression

How can new moms deal with Postpartum depression and mood swings

Be friendly with your baby

You need to maintain attachment-the emotional bonding with your baby. This wordless relationship is really necessary and essential to enable a child to feel secure. It helps enough to develop your child fully and affects how he or she will interact, communicate, and form relationships throughout life. So, make sure you respond warmly and consistently to your baby’s physical and emotional needs to build a secure attachment with your baby.

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Response quickly to your baby's demands and needs. But, remember, postpartum depression can interrupt this bonding. However, if you learn how to bond with your baby, it will be beneficial for your baby and for you as well which makes you feel happier and more confident as a mom.

Take others’ help and support

We are social beings and we can relieve our stress by building positive social contact with others. Positive social contact is faster and more efficient than any other means of stress reduction.

Naturally, a new mother needs help from others to care for the infant. Although at present nuclear families are available, new mothers often find themselves alone, exhausted, and lonely for supportive adult contact.

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So, it is important to be connected to family members and friends. Share what you’re experiencing with your nearest ones, especially with your mother or elder sister.

Be a joiner

Naturally, isolation begets anxiety. Make sure you may want to consider seeking out other women who are handling the same situation in motherhood although you have supportive friends. You can share your worries, insecurities, and feelings with them and they can give proper solutions to that as they have experience with these issues.

So, be a joiner and join the new-mommy support group which is offered by community organizations and hospitals to provide relief from the social isolation that comes with having a new baby, as well as perspective.

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Take care of yourself

You may avoid postpartum depression effectively by taking care of yourself. By taking care of your mental and physical well-being, you can feel better. So, follow a simple lifestyle. Put priority on yourself and your baby. Minimize your household chores.

Take Regular exercise and Meditation

Studies show that exercise may be excellent for treating depression. So move and take easy regular exercise like walking for 30-minutes each day. You can take stretching exercises like yoga that have shown to be especially effective. Besides, do meditation to make you feel calmer and more energized.

Build a sweet relationship with your partner

Research has shown that most divorces happen after the birth of a child. Many couples think that the relationship with their partner is their primary source of emotional expression and social connection. As a new baby needs enough time and concentration, it can fracture this relationship unless couples put some time, energy, and thought into preserving their bond.

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Consult your doctor for postpartum depression

If you are still suffering from postpartum depression after getting both self-help and family support, make sure you consult with your doctor. Take treatment as soon as possible. You can consult with a therapist who can help you successfully cope with the adjustments of motherhood.

However, you take marriage counseling if you are experiencing marital difficulties. Moreover, for cases of postpartum depression where your ability to function adequately for yourself or your baby is compromised, antidepressants may be an option.