You're exhausted. And cramping. Not to mention overwhelmed, hormonal, and quite unable to stand or sit without wincing in pain. If you happen to be one of the lucky women whose ìnew mommy euphoriaî never plummets to the baby blues, good for you! For everyone else, read on. You're not alone.
If you're feeling depressed or overwhelmed, don't be too hard on yourself. You're not in a contest to see who can be the best mom or who has it together the most; even if you were, the baby blues would hardly disqualify you from the prize. Having a baby (whether it is your first or your eighth) is a major life change. Not only are you not getting adequate sleep and trying to acclimate to your infant's schedule (or lack thereof), you're also still highly hormonal and probably in a good amount of physical pain. All this, coupled with the knowledge that you are suddenly responsible for your newborn baby's life, makes it no wonder that you aren't feeling at the top of your game!
Instead of getting upset with yourself over it, reach out for a little help. Spending some time talking with someone you are close to and comfortable with, such as your spouse, family members, or close friends, can do wonders. Your doctor can also provide you with a little wisdom and may even prescribe you something to help lighten your moods for a bit. And of course, be sure that you have a person or two in place to help out with the responsibility of caring for your little one. Many a new mother has been refreshed by a simple trip to the grocery store or coffee shop by themselves.
Lastly, pamper yourself. This tends to be easy to do while you're pregnant and all eyes are expectantly upon you, but others oftentimes forget that the first few months postpartum are hard on you as well. The spotlight may be redirected at your newborn, but you still need to get some time in for yourself. Spend a morning at the spa or an evening curled up in your favorite chair reading a bookóeven if it does mean getting a babysitter to make it happen. You deserve it! After all, you have the most important job in the world: mother.
Battling the Baby Blues