Depression Busters for New Moms
Posted by Lisa Hendey in Health on Wednesday, June 03, 2009 10:00 AM
I remember distinctly the morning of January 3, 1992. That was the day, circled in red on my calendar, when I was supposed to return to my full time career as a hospital recruitment manager. Instead, a series of decisions and circumstances found me embracing “stay at home mom” status in the company of four month old Eric. I was thrilled with my decision and happy that Greg could pick up extra shifts to make up some of my income.
But for some reason, on January 3, 1992, when I found myself at a YWCA support group for the first time instead of ensconced behind my desk at work as I had planned, depression hit me like a ton of bricks. I was likely exhausted from being up around the clock with a baby who had breastfeeding issues and slept poorly. My husband was working nonstop as an ER resident, so I felt like a single mom much of the time. And the reality of giving up my career left me questioning my new identity and my future. The presence of other moms in the same situation at the YWCA support group opened the floodgates and I broke down in the presence of fifteen moms I’d never met. We spent the entire hour discussing my situation, as other moms shared a few tears along the way. It was a safe place to vent—I left feeling supported and rejuvenated.
Many new moms face the “Baby Blues”. I recently discovered a great article entitled 12 Depression Busters for New Moms by Therese Borchard. Therese shares:
“It’s supposed to be the most exciting time of your life, and everyone is telling you how lucky you are to have a beautiful baby. But all you can do is cry. You’re pretty sure none of your new-mom friends feel this way. But they might be. Between 15 and 20 percent of new moms, about 1 million women in the US each year, experience some form of postpartum depression.”
Therese’s article goes on to give important safety information on postpartum depression, as well as specific coping tips to help you get through this difficult time. I thought it might be helpful to open up the conversation here at Faith & Family Live and invite you to share your experiences with depression or the “baby blues”. It’s imperative that we clearly delineate the difference between the two, and that you seek immediate medical intervention if you are suffering the symptoms of depression.
Have you, a family member, or a friend suffered from depression following the birth of a new baby? What helped you through this difficult time? How can our Catholic faith and traditions support moms going through periods of darkness and depression?
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