“I just had a bundle of joy, why do I feel so gloomy?”

The baby blues, also known as postpartum depression, can cause you to feel sad or depressed during a time that is typically full of joy.

According to the Baby Center:

Anywhere from 40 to 80 percent of new mothers experience the baby blues and most of the time they begin a few days after delivery and go away on their own within a week or two.

Sometimes it may be hard for you to decipher if you are truly experiencing depression or if you are just overwhelmingly stressed from your new baby. If you have any doubt or if symptoms last for more than a few weeks, seek help from medical and mental health professional.

If you are experiencing the baby blues, it may be hard to speak to someone about the problem. To help you out, we have compiled a full list of tips and tricks to dealing with the baby blues:

Rest

Take time while you are pregnant to sleep as much as you can so that when your baby arrives you are able to feel well rested and your body isn’t fatigued.

Care

Before and after your bundle of joy has arrived it is important to take time for yourself. Doing a little pampering and spending some time with friends should not make you feel guilty; it will actually help you be a better mother to your baby.

Active

It is important to make sure you get some form of exercise every day. Now we don’t mean training for a marathon, but simply taking a walk around the block can make you feel less depressed and more open-minded.

Support

One of the most important things to remember after you give birth is to spend time with friends and loved ones. Taking time to grab a lunch with your sister or coffee with a friend can make all the difference in your attitude. Don’t forget that when you are happy, so is your baby!

Understand

By understanding and accepting the times that lie ahead can make you that much more prepared to face them. Make sure that you set realistic goals and expectations for yourself as a parent.

About Choices Psychotherapy

Choice is the foundation for a change. Choice speaks to the reality that there is not one right answer for all.  At Choices Psychotherapy, we are committed to empowering clients and their families to identify options while assisting in creating a personal roadmap toward health and recovery.

Related: Postpartum Depression