Ask a therapist > Parenting > Postpartum anxiety/stress…. How to handle life changes for a first time mom?

Postpartum anxiety/stress…. How to handle life changes for a first time mom?

Im a new mom of a 2.5 week old and having a hard time with postpartum anxieties. I know this is normal and expected with all the hormonal shifts going on but it is making day to day activities and caring for a newborn so much more stressful and mentally/emotionally exhausting. I’ve talked with my OBgyn once who said it should pass, but in the meantime how do I cope with this level of stress/anxiety? It’s affecting my appetite and my general ability to get up and do things.
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Asked by Bee
Parenting
Answered
08/26/2022

Hello there and thank you for your question. Firstly, congratulations on your new baby, this is an exciting time for you and your family!  I hear your concerns with postpartum anxiety and you are correct, what you are experiencing is very normal right now, especially so soon from your delivery.  There are so many changes that occur when we give birth, so many hormonal shifts, and transitions.  Your doctor is correct that a lot of these postpartum issues may very well pass with some more time.  These are all things to continue to be aware of and take note of how you are feeling.  You may want to consider a mood tracker, such as a mood app on your phone, so that you can take note of any changes and patterns and report them to your doctor in the future.

The day to day of taking care of a newborn is very stressful and exhausting. You most likely are in survival mode right now, existing on little sleep and the sleep you do get is interrupted. I encourage you to invest in yourself whenever you can, indulge in self-care, if only for five minutes a day. Try to eat a healthy meal, drink lots of water, watch some guilty pleasure T.V., whatever feels good for you right now. You are focused on taking care of your baby, as you should be, but you also need to take care of yourself too. Maybe call in reinforcements, like family, if possible to do chores around the house for you, or watch the baby for a bit while you rest. There is no shame in asking for help and we all need our community at these difficult times. 

You will want to set up your own routine of self-care when you are able to to combat some of the anxiety you are feeling. Also, try to validate your feelings at this time, it is difficult and your body is adjusting to a lot. Try to be gentle and patient with yourself as you move forward in this journey.

You can also consider signing up for therapy as a source of support and a resource to further discuss healthy coping mechanisms during this time. Best wishes and hang in there, you got this!

(LPC)