The transition to motherhood can be taxing on a woman emotionally, physically and mentally. Many women suffer from the Baby Blues or postpartum depression (PPD). About 17% of mothers experience PPD² and 87% of women experience postpartum anxiety (PP anxiety)³.
Motherhood is an important time of life when a woman needs extra support and attention. In this period women are prone to psychological disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and prenatal PTSD. With this being such an important time of life it is important to take preventive measures and to know what resources you have available to you.
Postpartum depression and anxiety can have many negative consequences to both mothers and their babies.² It can cause weight gain, difficulty with affection towards others and the baby, and trouble breastfeeding.⁴
There are many resources available to mothers struggling with postpartum depression and anxiety. This is a hard time of life and mothers have many options.
Resources
Talk Therapy - Talk Therapy is a great resource to mothers as they are navigating this new stage of life. Being able to voice your concerns and feelings in a safe, non-judgemental space can be very beneficial.
Support Groups - You can find support groups around you through your local community or on social media. Facebook has many support groups for mothers.
Here is a group already on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/275524522646117/
Books - Books can help you to see that other women have gone through what you are going through. There are also workbooks that give you things to work on when trying to overcome PPD and PP anxiety. Listed are a couple books for PPD & PP anxiety.
Websites - There are many websites out there dedicated to helping women with PPD and PP anxiety. From these websites you can find even more resources. Down below is a website for postpartum support.
Podcasts - Podcasts are a great way to get information and support easily. You can turn one on and listen for as long as you like. Postpartum podcasts range from professionals giving advice to mothers telling their stories. Here are a few postpartum podcasts to listen to.
Newbies Podcast
Mom & Mind
Fourth Trimester Podcast
Perinatal Stories Australia
Postpartum Stories With Steph
Postpartum Production
The Tough Love Mom Podcast
Post Partum Talks
Social Support - Studies have shown that pregnant and new mothers suffer less from PPD if they have a strong social support from friends, family and spouses.¹ You can also find this social support from the community and online groups.
Don’t feel ashamed for experiencing PPD and PP anxiety. Know that there are resources for you that can help you. Reach out to those you feel close to and ask for help. Take control of your mental health and enjoy being a mother!
References
1. Cho, H., Lee, K., Choi, E., Cho, H. N., Park, B., Suh, M., Rhee, Y., & Choi, K. S. (2022). Association between social support and postpartum depression. Scientific Reports, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-07248-7
2. Daehn, D., Martens, C., Loew, V., Kemmler, L., Rudolf, S., Kochen, E., Renneberg, B., & Pawils, S. (2023). SmartMoms – a web application to raise awareness and provide information on postpartum depression. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-023-05680-9
3. Meliyana, E., Sirait, L. I., & Suratmi. (2022). Postpartum anxiety and stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research, 3(11), 2480–2484. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.03.11.30
4. Muller, E. V., Martins, C. M., & Borges, P. K. (2021a). Prevalence of anxiety and depression disorder and associated factors during postpartum in puerperal women. Revista Brasileira de Saúde Materno Infantil, 21(4), 995–1004. https://doi.org/10.1590/1806-93042021000400003
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