Maternal Mental Health Matters
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
The joy and happiness that you spread across the faces of your family by bringing a tiny new family member can conceal your inner emotions.
Everyone congratulates you on the arrival of the little angel, your husband starts taking more interest in the baby, and you get busy to provide for the newborn. But the emotions stay. Deep inside, you feel worried and tensed to fulfill the expectations of a mother.
You remain awake, thinking about the new responsibility that starts resting on your shoulder. With the hormonal changes, you suffer from extreme mood swings with little time to care for yourself and to feel better. But it’s okay to feel this way. Bringing a new life into this world is not something small. It’s like you have given birth to a flower that will blossom, and you are the source of its nutrients and water. You have to take care of that flower. But you are not alone.
Maternal mental health often remains neglected with the joy of the new addition to the family. You often feel alone as everyone is busy with the baby. You feel like you have lost all the care that you deserve, and no one is there for you now. But these are all negative thoughts that you must overcome. Your mental health is as important as the child you gave birth to is. You are still loved and adored. The constant reassurance from your partner or your mother is proof of their love and care. You might not feel it now, but you will get through it.
Self-care is the key to overcome your feelings of depression and sadness. It’s great that you make yourself available for your child and your family 24/7, but you deserve to take a rest once in a while. Go for a drive. Pick up lunch with your friends. Socialize. Talk to your mom friends about your concerns and how you are feeling. It’s okay to let it all go. Share what keeps you up in the middle of the night. Sharing is caring. Get some relaxation by visiting a spa. Help yourself with a new look or maybe a new haircut. Hit the gym a few times a week. Giving your child time doesn’t mean you have no time for yourself.
If nothing helps, you can join a support group. Support groups provide help to nurture mum’s mental health. And it’s alright to join any of such groups. Help yourself through these. You might even get some pretty good advice to take some of your burdens off your shoulders and to feel better.
The more you care for yourself, the more you will be able to take care of your child and your family. An excellent healthy mind is what you deserve. You are strong, and you are beautiful. You are an example to many, and you deserve to feel better and confident. Don’t let negative thoughts come in your way of living a perfect life with the beautiful family you have created.
MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS
