How To Tell If You Have Postpartum
Having a baby radically changes your life. In the immediate aftermath of giving birth, not only do you have a new infant to care for, but your body is also reeling from the hormonal and physical changes. While you’re probably preparing to meet your baby’s needs, you should be aware of how your own emotional needs will need attention too. Postpartum anxiety is serious but treatable.
What is postpartum anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is feelings of extreme, persistent worry after having a baby. It’s normal to feel some fear and stress with the drastic changes going on around you. But postpartum anxiety will cause you to worry excessively about highly improbable scenarios and feel generally anxious during normal activities. Postpartum anxiety can also go hand in hand with postpartum depression.
Symptoms of postpartum anxiety
Postpartum anxiety has both emotional and physical symptoms. Many of these symptoms overlap with postpartum depression and the normal emotional and physical rollercoaster of having a new baby. Knowing your body and its reactions is key to seeing the difference between normal and unhealthy stress. Symptoms of postpartum anxiety include:
sleeplessness due to excessive worrying
imagining highly unlikely scenarios
feelings of dread
intense fear of death (for yourself and/or your baby)
inability to relax
irritability
forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
controlling others around you
checking things over and over
being overly cautious in safe situations
racing thoughts
heart palpitations
nausea
shortness of breath
loss of appetite
What causes postpartum anxiety?
Postpartum anxiety is less common and less studied than postpartum depression, but researchers believe it affects anywhere between one in ten and one in five childbearing people. Family or personal history of mental illnesses, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder can increase your risk of developing postpartum anxiety. If you have previous experience with miscarriage or child loss you might be predisposed to postpartum anxiety.
Tips for coping with your anxiety
Get close with your baby
Cuddling and spending time with your baby releases oxytocin, which activates pleasure receptors in your brain and calms you down. Getting to know your baby will also ease your mind instead of catastrophizing.
Increase your physical activity
Try to find time to take walks outside, do yoga, and keep active. Your body might still be recovering from birth, so do what works best for you.
Don’t wean suddenly
Breastfeeding is another natural process that secretes tons of hormones into your body. When you decide to wean your baby, do so gradually to prevent any sudden changes.
Get enough sleep
This advice is easier said than done with a new baby! But a normal amount of sleep is crucial to keeping your mental health in check.
Enlist help
“It takes a village to raise a child” isn’t just an adage—it’s good advice that should be heeded when possible. If you have family and friends nearby, let them know you’re going through a tough time. If anyone can help you with meal prep, tidy the house, and tend to the baby The more hands on deck you have to help ease your stress, the better.
Talk to a professional
Post-pregnancy and childrearing are not easy, even though we assume they should be. Talking your stress through with a therapist is always a good idea. Many therapists offer online sessions, so you can find someone who fits in with your busy schedule. Prescription medications should always be discussed carefully with healthcare professionals, as nearly all meds are secreted in breast milk. But there may be medicinal treatments available. New parents should not have to push their own emotions away.
To learn more about how therapy can help you manage your postpartum anxiety, please contact us.
