Depression Postpartum:
How to Recover from Postpartum Depression
The post-natal period is characterized by general and chronic fatigue and often depression. The main factor leading to this stressful state is sleep deprivation. Recovery after childbirth varies from women to woman, but most undergo fatigue for weeks and some even months after. More than half of women feel they haven't totally recovered their pre-natal energy after six weeks.
There are a few things you can do to improve the recovery stage of postpartum problems. Sleep deprivation is hard to eliminate, as the baby is most active during the night in his or her first few months. Constant interruption of the mother's sleep leads to perpetual tiredness. The elevated hormone levels present after childbirth also contribute to this problem, but, fortunately, they only last about a week after. On the bright side, it only takes a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep for the mother to recover.
Time management is also radically altered after the birth of a child. All the patterns and usual events now change to face the difficulties presented with addressing the child's needs. A good plan is to try and anticipate all the potential problems before child delivery and build a network of friends and family who are willing to help out. You will probably have to delegate most of your usual chores to other people, and you should also see this as something useful, rather than frustrating.
Taking care of your child should become the number one priority -- family and friends can address all other issues. The father should always be there to help out, too. He will undoubtedly accept most of your requests, realizing that the better you feel the better the child feels, and also for the sake of the harmony of the home.
Taking advantage of the support everyone is giving shouldn't be total. Leave one or two things that you can deal with each day. Solving even some small problems will help you keep your self-esteem high. Anticipate all the other issues that might come up. Be prepared with some clean diapers and plastic bags for the dirty diapers. Have healthy snacks ready besides your bed, in case your child wakes you up and you feel hungry. If the child's bed is in a different room than your bedroom, make sure to have a comfortable chair next to the crib.
It also helps to give yourself a break every once and a while. Try to keep a room in the house tidy and clean, making it a good sanctuary to clear your head and relax. Long warm baths might seem like a luxury during these extenuating times, but use them to recharge.
A well balanced diet is necessary and vitamin and mineral supplements help to get you back in top working order (Dr. Ben Kim's Greens, a super dense barley powder, is a wonderful supplement).
You shouldn't diet for the first three months after childbirth. Carbohydrates are used extensively during this time for various processes, and eliminating or limiting their intake will lead to aggravated fatigue and physical weakness.
Don't give up practicing at least one of your hobbies, as even small periods of time when you're having fun will get your energy back up.
If the weather is nice you should do your best to try and take short walks, as this will keep you in good shape, as well as beat back depression.
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