Fighting Baby Blues!

Baby blues are considered a normal part of early motherhood and normally go away within 10 days after childbirth.

Occasional mood swings are okay but even after 15 days if your mood doesn't lift, you may be suffering from postpartum depression (PPD). Postpartum Depression is an illness just like cardiovascular disease, which is triggered when neurotransmitters –- chemicals in brain -- respond abnormally to hormonal fluctuations and can happen anytime within the first year after childbirth.

How to tackle Baby Blues?

Here are ways to cope with baby blues:

Take out time for yourself:

Take out some free time, even if its 20 minutes. In that free time go for a walk, read your favorite book or take a relaxing bath. This will relax your mind.

Maintain a diary:

Write down your feelings in your dairy and after sometime read it yourself. This will help you to notice positive changes and how better you are now.

Sleep when your baby is sleeping:

I know it’s an age old advice but it works! Go to sleep while your baby is asleep. Don’t try to be a superwoman and take care of everything. To fight fatigue and depression, you need rest. Have a relative or friend watch your baby, even if only for an hour, and sleep.

Get help:

As a mother of a newborn you will have many things to look after so getting a help will be beneficial, get a baby sitter or ask a friend or relative to help you time to tome. Be honest about how much you can do, and ask other people to help you when you need it.

Eat right:

Eat a healthy balanced diet and avoid eating too many fattening foods. Researchers believe that intake of food rich in omega 3 oils — like wild salmon, flaxseed oil, and walnuts —enhance brain function and can help with depression. Cut back on caffeine, salt, sugar and add lots of fibre in your diet.

Listen to music:

Remember listening to music is a great way to relaxing oneself and getting out of baby blues funk. Turn on some soothing music and sit back with baby in your lap and listen. The music may also be soothing to your baby as well.

Talk About Your Feelings With Your partner Or Friend:

Talk about your feelings with your partner and try to get some quality time together. Simple hug, kiss can mean a lot especially during baby blues. Your partner can look after baby while you take a bath and relax. You can also invite a friend over for lunch or dinner, talking with a friend can be a great way to beat the blues.

Join a support group:

Join support groups in your area, this way you will meet other new mothers and talking to them can make you realize that you're not alone. If you feel like crying a bit don’t hold back your tears but try not to live on sad or negative thoughts.

Remember baby blues are just a phase, which will pass.