Pregnancy is the most beautiful journey in a mother’s life. Growing a whole baby in a tiny womb is something only women are capable of, and God knew it. Pregnancy is itself very challenging throughout the 3 trimesters. Nausea, backaches, cramps, UTIs, and fatigue are very common symptoms in the first trimester of pregnancy.
The truth behind pregnancy is that it is not always a joyful journey, but the effects of it on mental health are enormous. Hormones being all over the place and others not understanding your situation makes you sad. Everyone tells you that this time will pass. But will that feeling of sadness end?
Fourth Trimester or Postpartum?
The fourth trimester of pregnancy is also called the postpartum phase. This is where mothers’ mental health starts to deteriorate. Also known as post-partum depression. But why does it happen? It can’t be real because there is no reason for a mother to be depressed about it. She was just blessed with a baby, so she should be thankful, but why is she behaving like that?
When a mother gives birth, she becomes a whole new person. She is already overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted; she only needs support and not negativity. But what happens when she doesn’t get that support? The mental strain becomes unbearable, resulting in PPD.
Post-partum depression (PPD) is as real as pregnancy. PPD is the feeling of sadness and tiredness in your body that cannot be seen by others. You start to feel guilty because you think you are not good enough for your baby. You cannot bond with your baby. Everyone’s symptoms are different. It may happen right after birth, or it may take months to occur.
Causes of PPD
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Out of every 1 in 7 mothers, one has PPD. According to one report by the CDC, 23% of maternal deaths happened between 7 and 42 days postpartum, and 30% occurred between 43 and 365 days postpartum. After delivery, about 5% of women continued to experience severe symptoms of postpartum depression for three years.
Postpartum depression can occur for many reasons. Genes are the number-one cause. As we all know, depression can be passed on from parents to children through genes. The same can happen with PPD. Hormones play a vital role in it. Fluctuations in hormones after birth are common, and if they don’t go back to their normal level, it can cause PPD.
In the fourth trimester, being a parent itself is a difficult and ongoing task that can lead to several issues, such as insomnia, nervousness, and money strain. Also, it implies that you have less time to take care of yourself, including exercising, maintaining a good diet, and engaging in activities you often find enjoyable.
Getting Help
Women feel ashamed about their feelings and try to hide them to the point that those thoughts become suicidal. But if you are experiencing any symptoms, you should call for help. You should contact your primary healthcare provider.
Create a support group around you. Don’t be embarrassed about asking for help from your partner, family, and friends. Mothers need sleep and a well-balanced diet to look after a baby, and if you are not getting enough of them, you will be feeling all kinds of depression. Let that help come in; accepting it won’t make you a bad mother.
There is a lot of online community to support new mothers and protect their mental health. Join those groups and learn about others. Therapy and medication help too. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT) are used for postpartum depression. Your healthcare provider or gynecologist can also prescribe medication.
Taking care of yourself should be your first priority. Feeling overwhelmed? Write in a journal. Do self-meditation. Take your little one and go for a walk. Apply masks while feeding the baby. If you feel happy, there is more of a chance you can bond with your baby more.
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