Real Deal About Postpartum: What Your Girlfriends Didn’t Tell You About Postpartum
by Reneze Trim
You have just arrived at brunch with your girlfriends for the first time since giving birth to your newborn. After many squeals, hugs, and congratulations your girlfriends welcome you to motherhood. The excitement settles in and one of your girlfriends says: “A baby changes everything.” You may have heard this cliche before, but this time, after all their advice, the pregnancies you’ve witnessed, and your own- it is surreal. “I am a mom”, you repeat to yourself for the hundredth time this week. But you wonder, “What haven’t they told me?”
New Pregnancy, Different Vibes
Whether this is your first ever pregnancy, have had a miscarriage, carrying multiple babies, or this is your last pregnancy- every pregnancy is different. This may not be very obvious at times. However, in America, when women retell their deliveries, it is rare for women to have the same exact experience. The trimester you have morning sickness, the cravings, your mental state, and overall pregnancy and delivery experience can all be vastly different. At any moment in one pregnancy you were weeping for no known reason and struggled to get out of bed. Then next pregnancy you single-handedly lead a major work project to success before your maternity leave- or vice versa.
Familiar Feelings, New Worries
To an extent, media and social media has normalized the many changes of a woman's body in pregnancy and postpartum. However the amazing changes to a woman's brain during pregnancy are astounding and not commonly discussed. Many are left unaware that prior mental health issues can reoccur or intensify in pregnancy and postpartum. If you have struggled with anxiety before, you may see symptoms return or may find your usual coping skills no longer reduce your anxiety, or work at all. Some women experience Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Perinatal/Postpartum Psychosis even if they have never had a mental health issue before. Perinatal Psychosis occurs in approximately 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 deliveries and may require medication and or hospitalization.
Some mothers discover they have new worries about situations and safety they have never thought about before. Motherhood, whether you have living children or have experienced pregnancy loss, forever changes you. For many in postpartum, it’s a struggle to even think about self-care, much less do so when you feel overwhelmed. This is where postpartum counselors can support you on this part of your journey. Perinatal Mental Health issues are all treatable with therapy and, in some cases, medication.
Men Struggle with Postpartum Mental Health Too
The statistic states that one in ten men may experience depression and or anxiety during the perinatal period. A father may have symptoms in the first year a baby is born. Many men ignore or minimize their depression and or anxiety because they physically did not go through labor as their wife or partner did. In some cases, both the mother and father are dealing with their mental health challenges and many men shoulder a burden to take care of their family without dealing with their mental health issues.
Seeking Professional Help is Sometimes Necessary
For both men and women symptoms causing daily interruptions and discomfort are warnings to make a change or seek help. Starting therapy is a valuable tool and process to support you through the transformational change of parenthood. Connect with one of our mental health counselors for a free consultation today! We provide counseling services in Georgia and Florida virtually, with office locations in Buford, GA and Peachtree City, GA.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed about postpartum and want to connect with other moms and learn about providers that can support you, join us on April 26th from 10am to 12pm at Nurture and Be Therapy Services for our annual Nurtured Momma event! We will be showcasing our favorite postpartum providers in the Peachtree City area. Come eat lunch, connect with other moms, get some free goodies, and find your support team.
