{"id":316795,"date":"2024-10-15T11:45:28","date_gmt":"2024-10-15T15:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/?post_type=article&p=316795"},"modified":"2024-11-25T10:24:58","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T15:24:58","slug":"welcoming-a-new-baby-and-the-emotions-that-come-with-it","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.oviahealth.com\/guide\/316795\/welcoming-a-new-baby-and-the-emotions-that-come-with-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcoming a new baby, and the emotions that come with it"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Rochaun<\/p>\n

Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez, Mother and writer<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

I was so busy learning to take care of a new human the first couple weeks after giving birth that I didn’t have time to process the event. Between kidney issues and my postpartum complications, everything was moving fast. It’s safe to say it was nearly a month after giving birth before I realized everything would change forever.<\/span><\/p>\n

After discovering the source of my health complications, I began to feel like myself again. I wanted to resume life as normal now that I felt better, but it hadn\u2019t set in that my usual freedom was gone. \u201cLet’s go somewhere,\u201d I would say.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what about the baby?\u201d my husband would ask. Of course, I knew my son existed – I was his main caretaker. But until my support system returned to work, I didn\u2019t realize things would never be the same. That realization led to a short spell of hopelessness and depression. I loved my son, but I hated being stuck in the house around the clock. The resentment towards my new life caused the dreaded baby blues.<\/span><\/p>\n

Negative feeling post birth, or baby blues, are a common occurrence postpartum. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that up to 80% of new mothers report some experience the baby blues. But while they\u2019re common, the baby blues can be debilitating if they catch you off guard.<\/span><\/p>\n

My sadness was the result of an isolated depressive spell. However, for many women giving birth can cause long-term feelings of chronic and pervasive sadness that can quickly become life-threatening.<\/span><\/p>\n

These feelings happen for a multitude of reasons. For some, it’s a natural part of adjusting to a new life. For others, like those who have postpartum depression, these negative feelings are related to hormonal changes and a cumulation of other factors.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the Center for Disease Control, you are at increased risk for postpartum depression if you lack social support, have had a baby preterm, or are under a period of considerable stress. Similarly, if you deal any of the following symptoms frequently after having a baby it is recommended that you speak to a mental health professional:<\/span><\/p>\n