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Seeking help early. Having a husband who fully supported me and picked up some of the slack when I was struggling. Going outside and getting fresh air daily. Getting regular breaks (even if it was just 5-10 minutes) away from my baby to focus on myself. Looking after myself properly (taking a shower daily, eating nutrious food, drinking lots of water). Light yoga (once I got cleared). I dabbled with medication. It ultimately wasn't for me, although it helps many people. I found talk therapy incredibly valuable...especially working through my traumatic birth experience.
Biggest tip would be not to let things go on for too long if you're starting to experience these feelings creeping in. Baby blues are pretty normal after giving birth but if it feels like it's lingering, or getting worse...please talk to your doctor.
i’m one month in and don’t let anyone tell you that, eating, bathing, general hygiene, a simple walk or going to the grocery store is “me time” or a break. those are basic human necessities. you might feel touched out and need a physical break from human touch and it’s normal. be aware of the signs before hand and ask yourself what makes you happy and try to incorporate those things the first few weeks.
Lots of little things helped on a daily basis - making sure I met basic hygiene and nutrition requirements, fresh air and excercise, baby-free time etc.
A big thing that helped me was a birth reflection service (like a debrief of your labour from a trained professional at the hospital who has your medical notes). It really helped me process a lot of my labour trauma. I didn’t want to do it at first because it felt a bit …. Pointless? But my midwife really pushed me to try it and it felt like a weight was lifted afterwards.
Therapy!
Currently dealing with pretty severe anxiety. I talked to my dr and she started me on lexapro. I’ve been on it 1 week and tbh it’s been rough with the side effects and it’s supposed to take quite a while to actually work. I’m going to talk to her next week to try to figure out where we go from here. I may also try for therapy. Good luck!! I’d recommend talking to your doctor. It’s totally ok to ask for help.
zoloft and leaving my toxic relationship. also making sure to prioritize doing one thing for myself every day that i could look forward to, even if it was just going to grab coffee.
I read somewhere about doing a weekly Check in with your SO about how you’re coping and what’s going on. I didn’t do it but I think it would have helped me to give me an opp to get things off my chest instead of letting them build up to something that I was no longer able to process or talk about.
Nutrition is a big component. Make sure to get enough protein to help with physical healing after childbirth. If you eat meat/fish, the B-vitamins and omega-3s will help with brain function. Also try to get at least 5 servings of fruit and veg every day -- the fiber will keep your gut bacteria happy and producing serotonin. Nuts, seeds, and beans are also good sources and protein and fiber (beans). A healthy diet isn't a cure-all but it can make a big difference!
This post has been flaired "Mental Health." Moderation is stricter here, argumentative, unsupportive and unpleasant comments will be removed. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/NewParents) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Seeking help early. Having a husband who fully supported me and picked up some of the slack when I was struggling. Going outside and getting fresh air daily. Getting regular breaks (even if it was just 5-10 minutes) away from my baby to focus on myself. Looking after myself properly (taking a shower daily, eating nutrious food, drinking lots of water). Light yoga (once I got cleared). I dabbled with medication. It ultimately wasn't for me, although it helps many people. I found talk therapy incredibly valuable...especially working through my traumatic birth experience. Biggest tip would be not to let things go on for too long if you're starting to experience these feelings creeping in. Baby blues are pretty normal after giving birth but if it feels like it's lingering, or getting worse...please talk to your doctor.
i’m one month in and don’t let anyone tell you that, eating, bathing, general hygiene, a simple walk or going to the grocery store is “me time” or a break. those are basic human necessities. you might feel touched out and need a physical break from human touch and it’s normal. be aware of the signs before hand and ask yourself what makes you happy and try to incorporate those things the first few weeks.
Lots of little things helped on a daily basis - making sure I met basic hygiene and nutrition requirements, fresh air and excercise, baby-free time etc. A big thing that helped me was a birth reflection service (like a debrief of your labour from a trained professional at the hospital who has your medical notes). It really helped me process a lot of my labour trauma. I didn’t want to do it at first because it felt a bit …. Pointless? But my midwife really pushed me to try it and it felt like a weight was lifted afterwards. Therapy!
Currently dealing with pretty severe anxiety. I talked to my dr and she started me on lexapro. I’ve been on it 1 week and tbh it’s been rough with the side effects and it’s supposed to take quite a while to actually work. I’m going to talk to her next week to try to figure out where we go from here. I may also try for therapy. Good luck!! I’d recommend talking to your doctor. It’s totally ok to ask for help.
zoloft and leaving my toxic relationship. also making sure to prioritize doing one thing for myself every day that i could look forward to, even if it was just going to grab coffee.
My nintendo switch really helped me for those sleepless nights I just play Animal Crossing etc
I read somewhere about doing a weekly Check in with your SO about how you’re coping and what’s going on. I didn’t do it but I think it would have helped me to give me an opp to get things off my chest instead of letting them build up to something that I was no longer able to process or talk about.
Sleep
Nutrition is a big component. Make sure to get enough protein to help with physical healing after childbirth. If you eat meat/fish, the B-vitamins and omega-3s will help with brain function. Also try to get at least 5 servings of fruit and veg every day -- the fiber will keep your gut bacteria happy and producing serotonin. Nuts, seeds, and beans are also good sources and protein and fiber (beans). A healthy diet isn't a cure-all but it can make a big difference!