The birth of a new baby brings lots of new feelings. Some of these feelings are excitement and joy! However, there may also be feelings of stress and depression that follow. These feelings are true for both men and women. We are here to support you and want you to be well educated on what postpartum depression may look like, so you can help out a friend when they may need you the most!
For women, their bodies have just gone through numerous changes over the past nine months and then a dramatic change in a matter of hours to give birth to their child. Throughout the course of pregnancy, the mother experiences high levels of many different hormones. After giving birth, her body begins to experience this hormonal shift as these levels decrease. Regardless of whether that mother experiences postpartum depression, it is a dramatic change and change (especially change out of our control) can lead to uneasy feelings. It is important to check in with new mothers to ensure they are supported and receive the care they need not only for their child, but also for themselves.
Furthermore, although the dad’s body wasn’t physically and hormonally changing during pregnancy, he may struggle to adjust in his own ways as well. His life drastically changes when his child is born and being a dad might change his lifestyle more than he was anticipating. Being a great dad takes a selfless attitude, so as dads learn to prioritize their time, they may experience depression as well. It is important to check in with new fathers to ensure they are supported and receive the care they need not only for their child, but also for themselves.
Both men and women will be impacted by the lack of sleep that comes after the birth of a new child. This lack of sleep can impact not only how you think but also how you feel. Having a newborn comes with many sleepless nights! Lack of sleep takes a huge toll on our bodies, without the stress of a new baby, so imagine how much more stress would come with lack of sleep and the stress of learning to be a parent. On top of this, both parents can be overwhelmed as they grow to understand their baby’s cries and get used to caring for a new baby. If these overwhelming feelings continue for months and don’t get better, it is important to ask for help.
Remember the depression that may follow after having a baby is not something to feel ashamed of. It’s okay to struggle however, it is important you are honest with those in your life and seek help when you need it. You do not have to go through this on your own.
Birth Choice is always here to help you navigate the ups and downs of having a new child! If you want to talk to someone, we are here to help and empower you!
Birth Choice of San Marcos
An additional local resource is https://socalempowered.com/ be sure to check their website out for more on this topic.
