Returning to Work after Baby

Do you often feel guilty that you are not able to take care of your newborn? Do you break into crying spells without many apparent reasons? Are you facing difficulty bonding with your newborn baby? Do you eat a lot or too less? To make matters worst, Have you already planned even once to kill yourself or the baby and suffered for thinking like that later?

If the answers to most of the questions is a ‘Yes’; you are most likely suffering from a Condition called

POST-PARTUM DEPRESSION.

Childbirth is a beautiful and extraordinary journey for most parents; the new person in your life is a source of immense joy, satisfaction, pride and hopes! But what if the smiles on the little face make you anxious, tired, worried and hopeless about your own future? Most women tend to blame themselves for being a  ‘BAD MOTHER’ when the feelings are just opposite to what stories they had heard about CHILDBIRTH and MOTHERHOOD.

To make things worse, you have to go back to work, adding to the already accumulated ‘Guilt’ that you are facing for not being sufficient for your child.

 First things first, Let us understand what Postpartum depression is.

Postpartum depression is a mood disorder which affects women after childbirth.Women having postpartum depression experience extreme sadness, worry, exhaustion which makes it difficult to take care of their daily activities, taking care of themselves and others.It is not a feeling that comes from your being a BAD MOTHER but it is a result of chemical changes that take place during childbirth.The research found out that the changes in hormones during and after childbirth are one of the reasons of PPD. The changes in relationships, responsibilities and self -Image being others.

How to Understand When you have a PPD?

Post-Partum Depression(PPD) is different from another condition called ‘Baby Blues’ which is when you experience moments of worry, sadness, and tiredness after having a baby. Having a baby comes with a lot of hard work, care that the baby needs. This leaves the mother feeling exhausted, sad and tied down.Almost 80% of women experience these signs which fade away in a week or two.

In PPD these feelings of sadness, anxiety lack of control over the situation can be extreme.The condition can be triggered anytime after childbirth but is most common for a week to a month after delivery.

Common symptoms you may experience other than the above are:

• Feeling sad, empty, overwhelmed
• Crying spells
• Worrying excessively, feeling anxious
• Mood swings and restlessness
• Trouble in concentrating on details, remembering and inability to make decisions
• Losing your temper
• Loss of interest in activities enjoyed before childbirth
• Suffering from multiple aches, pains and headaches
• Eating too little or too much
• Withdrawing from socialization
• Unable to bond or get attached to the Baby
• Doubting your ability to take care of a mother.

In extreme conditions, thinking, planning or even attempting to harm yourself or the baby.

It becomes more difficult when you have to return back to work after childbirth.Sometimes the symptoms surface only after you return to work after the addition of extra stress at workplace.

You have the additional role of a mother to play after childbirth apart from managing family, work, social life and daily errands.But when you diagnose yourself with PPD, your priority should be your mental health. You can only do best for your newborn, family and job when you take responsibility for yourself.

Here are a few things you can do to hold onto your work while dealing with PPD:

Seek Professional Help

If you understand that lately there are persistent mood or anxiety, seek a trained professional, to determine whether you have simple  ‘Baby Blues’ or more than this.

Self-care hours

When you are not at work, schedule a definite number of hours for self-care.Disconnect yourself from all work during these hours and do activities that ‘ renew ‘  you.

Find a support group

PPD and motherhood can distance you from others around you which can escalate your depression. You can safely share and connect with other people facing a similar situation.

Eat, sleep and exercise well

Do whatever it takes to take 6-7 hours of sleep per day, even if it feels like a luxury when juggling between work and baby. Breastfeeding can leave you feeling weak; what you eat has a lot of impact in the changes of mood. Eat healthily! Exercise, whenever you can, to get the good feeling that is a result of the release of endorphins.

 Voice your needs

Share your condition of PPD with the people who matter at your workplace. Do not worry about looking unprofessional or weak. Having PPD does not imply that you will not be able to handle work, it would rather be more manageable when others know what you are dealing with and hence you will recover quicker. Ask for a quieter place to work, change work hours, or more offs. It will be more beneficial for you in the long run for your career and quality of life in general.

To Take our test on Depression Click here

Mentriq by Dr. Prerna Kohli is India’s top Mental Health Counseling Provider. To learn more about Mentriq click here  http://mentriq.in/about-mental-health-services/