3 Depression Counseling Tips for New Moms

Feb 26, 2020

Becoming a mother, although one of the greatest pleasures in life, can also be incredibly stressful. Not only does your body have to go through a lot with giving birth and breastfeeding (or even using breast pumps, if that's what you choose to do) but you also have to take care of your child 24/7. Even with a helpful partner, the stress can be too much for many new moms who end up suffering from post-partum depression. So here are some tips to take care of yourself as a new mom:

1. Sleep: Your body needs to recuperate from everything it has gone through. At times, it may not be possible to sleep enough if your child wakes up in the middle of the night and needs to be fed or rocked back to sleep. But it's important to make sure your partner also helps you out with this. And if you're not getting enough sleep at night, try taking a nap during the day.
2. Diet and Exercise: It's important to eat well for yourself as well as your child, if you're breastfeeding. Make sure you eat a lot of fruits and veggies as well as enough protein to keep up your strength. Don't go overboard on carbohydrates, but don't cut them out of your diet either. Don't skip meals because you're busy. And some type of exercise is a good idea everyday, even if it's only a light walk with your baby in the stroller.
3. Mood: To avoid feeling low or depressed, make sure you do certain mood-lifting things like dressing up and going out everyday, even if it's just to the park or to a neighborhood café. Keep your surroundings neat and tidy. If you're at home, you can take up some projects to keep you busy. Call some friends over and hang out with them; they won't mind if you need to take a time out to feed the baby. The important thing is to keep doing the things you normally do even if you may not be able to spend as much time doing them as you did before the baby.

Contact us for more great tips to take care of yourself as a new mom. If you feel that you are suffering from post-partum depression, please contact us today.