Beating those baby blues - Infant Care (up to 18 months old) Message Board

lex jude · 09-28-2005, 08:25 AM

Hey everyone! I just wanted to ask those new mom's out there (or even ones with experience :P ) on how you beat those baby blues? I'm not talking about major PostPartum Depression....just the regular feelings of sadness, hormonal craziness and sleeplessness new mummies get after having a baby. Any tips on how to make those hard days a bit easier?

<3

JenW67 · 09-28-2005, 09:31 AM

Hi Lex,

I don't know how far poast partum you are but I have a couple of suggestions that I am sure others have heard too.

- Talk to anyone who will listen, especially other moms. If you do not know any, keep coming here and ask all the questions that pop into your head. Use us to vent, or cyber-cry even if it is for no "good" reason. Also, you may want to check out your local YMCA or other similar organization to see if they have new moms group. I take my son to a local story hour at a library even though he sleeps through the whole thing. It is a way to meet other moms.

- Sleep whenever you can. It's hard and I dont' do it but it always seems like a good idea.

-Accept help from anyone who is willing to give it. An hour by yourself reading in another room, a baby free walk or even trip to the grocery store have amazing healing qualities.

-Give up on housework. If you are rich, hire someone to do the stuff that bugs you . If you aren't, don't look at it.

-Take baby out. Realize that if he/she is fussy, other people don't get bothered by it as much as you think they will. Start small with trips to places close to home that seem baby friendly. We go to local cafe almost every day and the staff all know Liam now and even watch him when I go to pee. Make friends with merchants who will smile when you come in rather than scowl.

-Let yourself heal physically and emotionally. No matter how much you love your baby, your life and body are dramatically different from before. It will take time to find a new comfort zone.

-Last- talk to your doctor or midwife. He/she can gauge very well where you are on the Baby Blues spectrum and might have more suggestions.

Hang in there girl. It is quite a ride!

-Jen

PrittyGreenEyez · 09-28-2005, 09:36 AM

Hello and i'm sorry to hear what your going through. I know it all to well and sometimes become ashamed of the feelings I had when I had my son close to 5 months ago. I too was filled with stress and worry of being a new mom. My life had changed drastically and though I thought I was ready...I was dead wrong. It was hard getting up every 2 hours for a feeding, a burping a changing. To make matters worse, I had my son on a Sat. and by Monday my fiance was back at work...I was all alone and scared. I remember crying for about 3 weeks straight because I was so angry at how my life had changed and I didn't feel close to my son. I felt like he belonged to some one else and we were baby sitting him. I had no bond with him what so ever. Honestly what I did was pray and ask DF for some extra help. I let him care for our son for a good week almost 2. I deserved the extra rest and relaxation. What mother doesn't? I found comfort in surrounding myself with family and friends and just talking to them about how I was feeling and knowing I wasn't the only one helped a great deal. The sad but honest thing is that I think what got me even closer to my son was the fact that one night, he was asleep in his crib next to our bed and we have the angel care monitor. Well I guess it didn't pick up his movement or something and the alarm went off. I have never been so scared or jumped out of bed so fast. Thank God he was okay, just had shifted a bit. I held him in my arms and cried my eyes out...ever since that night i can't stand to have him out of my site. I hope you get through okay because I know how hard it is. The best of luck and health to you and your loved ones!

2fst · 09-28-2005, 09:38 AM

Sleep.
DS is bottlefed so DH gets up to feed DS every night.
But for me sleep is the only answer and it is so hard to even fall asleep.

dragonprincess · 09-28-2005, 10:03 AM

I agree with all the moms here but sleep was the only thing that helped me to.My dh took over for a couple days and took care of the baby did every thing and let me rest it made me feel like a new person and let my son and his father devlope a bond that they needed .My husben to be was scared he was going to do somthing wrong and hurt he's son now he is so confident he is almost as good as me almost.lol even if it's just 1 day or to it's good for everyone.