The Truth About Postpartum
Congratulations! You’re a new mom and have this beautiful bundle of joy that you love more than anything in the entire world. You stare at the perfect tiny human you have created and wonder how in the world you got so lucky. So how is it possible with all of that love and happiness, you can feel so sad?
Let’s talk about the thing that new moms aren’t supposed to talk about, postpartum depression. I think the term itself gives a lot of women a feeling of anxiety. I want to stress, I am not an expert on any of this by any means, nor am I a nurse, doctor or psychologist. I am simply a mom wanting to help other moms.
Though I did not experience postpartum depression, I absolutely had the “baby blues”. It’s such a weird feeling. I was over the moon that we finally had our miracle baby. But holy moly, some days the emotions that I felt would consume me. I was recovering from a c-section, trying to care for a newborn and I had no clue what I was doing. Of course, friends and family wanted to come over and see Mason, and my husband and I were pretty good about telling people when they could and couldn’t come to visit. It sounds silly, but I felt pressure to get dressed, shower, put makeup on and feel “together”. Maybe because on the inside I felt like I was falling apart. Mason wouldn’t latch and I was pumping 10 times a day trying to get my supply in order, so we were up all night trying to feed him with various methods, and again, I had no clue what I was doing! I remember many times just standing in my kitchen crying. Nothing would set me off, I would just cry. And I’ll be honest, it wasn’t the movie scene single tear beautiful cry, it was a hot mess, sobbing out of control cry.
So why does this happen? For nine months, your body is in overdrive producing hormones for you and your baby. These hormones are meant to change your body both physically and mentally, so when you finally deliver that beautiful baby, it’s no wonder they go out of control. There are tons of resources I will link below that can explain this much better than I can, but know all of these hormonal changes are completely normal. According to healthychildren.org, there are varying degrees of depression you can experience during and after pregnancy. Baby blues, perinatal depression (prenatal and postpartum depression), and postpartum psychosis. If you think you may be experiencing severe mood swings, are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, feel inadequate or like a failure, or have thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, please reach out to a friend, family member, physician, psychologist, helpline…please just ask for help. There is NO SHAME in feeling the way that you do. What’s important is to please know you are not alone and that there are people who dedicate their lives to helping mothers cope through these feelings. This does NOT make you a bad mother or a bad person. Please do not suffer in silence or try to go through it alone. We need to wrap our arms around one another and start supporting each other and stop shaming one another. We are all in this together.
If you live in Manitoba, there are many local resources here to assist you.
Postpartum Depression Associate of Manitoba - PPDA of Manitoba lists several resources to assist mothers. Here you will find facts on PPD, a checklist on how you may be feeling that you can bring to your physician, and references to psychologists and counsellors in the city. www.ppdmanitoba.ca
Contact your public health nurse (204-926-7000 if in Manitoba) - Your public health nurse should have been to see you shortly after giving birth, and they are there for you to contact and assist you with anything you need
WRHA Crisis Response Centre (204-786-8686) - The Crisis Response Centre is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They provide short term clinical treatment and various support services through walk-in services, mobile services, and scheduled appointments.
Manitoba Suicide Line (1-877-435-7170) - The Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line is a confidential 24 hour crisis line run by trained counsellors from Klinic Community Health.
For those outside Manitoba, there are numerous international resources available.
Postpartum Support International - This site contains a very comprehensive overview on PPD. They talk about mental health in general, depression and anxiety during and after pregnancy and PTSD. Click to view website or call 1-800-944-4773
Pacific Postpartum Support Society - Similar to Postpartum Support International, there is a plethora of information and resources available to you. Most categories contain videos of families who have experienced PPD so you see you are not alone. Click to view website or call 1-855-255-7999
Healthychildren.org - This page is not limited to PPD. It contains information on overall emotional wellness, safety and prevention, and other health issues. Click to view website.
* This post is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always speak to your pediatrician or other qualified healthcare provider with questions you may have.
