You waited 9 months, or perhaps even longer. The day finally arrived, and you are a parent now. The social media congratulations rush in on your phone. You receive texts and calls saying the same thing. You feel the love and joy of those in your life who are celebrating your baby’s arrival.
Why do I feel so sad?
Shouldn’t I be more excited and happy right now?
This is just the baby blues, right?
The period after a baby is born is one of the most challenging life adjustments we can probably go through. You’re irritable and exhausted, and your mood feels all over the place as your body tries to adjust to life after a baby has been birthed. In a few weeks’ time, most of these symptoms will go away or become less severe as you adjust to this new chapter.
Known as postpartum depression, this goes beyond the normal baby blues. Because, unlike the baby blues, certain feelings just aren’t going away. But what are some signs and symptoms of postpartum depression to know for sure?
Emotional Distress
There isn’t a parent out there who doesn’t doubt they are doing enough for their child. However, when someone is dealing with postpartum depression, this is taken to a whole new level. You may constantly look down on yourself if you think you aren’t doing enough. Or you might feel guilty or unhappy with yourself as you realize that you aren’t reacting to motherhood in the way you expected.
Change Of Habits Or Loss Of Interest
You weren’t expecting to be able to devote all of your time to hobbies or activities after you brought your newborn home. But, you also weren’t expecting to not have any interest in them at all, even if you do have the time. Or maybe you are finding that you are eating more than normal or, alternatively, less.
New parents commonly do not get enough sleep, especially not like they are used to. But are you sleeping too little? Even when the baby is sleeping and you had the opportunity to at night, are you struggling to fall asleep? Extreme changes in any of your normal habits, rituals, or activities could mean that you are dealing with something more than just being a new parent.
Postpartum Depression Is More Common Than You Think
It’s honestly something that isn’t talked about a lot. It’s almost considered taboo to talk about postpartum depression. As if this huge change in your life shouldn’t be affecting you in big ways.
What Causes Postpartum Depression?
There’s no definitive answer to this, but it’s not your fault that you are feeling this way. After birth, the body goes through another huge round of hormonal changes. The hormones that kick into over-drive during pregnancy plummet back down. It could also be your thyroid levels dropping or changing, which can greatly impact your mood. So the emotions and feelings you are experiencing can be due to things happening in your body that you have no control over.
Alternatively, you could be grieving for the person and life you used to have. That doesn’t mean you aren’t thrilled to be a new parent, but you are also adjusting to the idea that you now have a little one who will require your attention. It’s okay to feel sad that a certain chapter of your life is over.
If you struggle with postpartum depression, you probably feel like you are in a funk you will never get out of. With depression counseling, I can help you embrace and adjust to this new life and to feel better again, let’s connect soon.
