support for moms with postpartum depression Archives

10. What advice would you give to a new mother suffering from postpartum depression?

I would say to speak up about it. Even if you’re not sure if you have it, talk to your doctor anyway. I feel like I waited too long to get help and I could have avoided a lot of pain and suffering. And if no one helps you or believes you, keep trying. You know yourself better than anyone and if you’re not happy, then find someone else who will listen to you. – Vanessa

You are NOT alone. No matter how you feel. I guarantee you, someone has felt the same. Let it out. Seek help, whether it’s from a doctor, from a friend, or from a stranger/counselor etc. Don’t say no when people offer to take your baby, to clean your house, make you supper, etc. I know it’s hard to show people you don’t have it all together, but it is OK! The advice I would want to give is too long to write. The bottom line is you are not alone, don’t believe you are alone, don’t let the voice inside your head convince you you are alone. You aren’t. And help is available so long as you are willing to take it! – Anonymous

Everything you think and do that you are ashamed of, even if it seems utterly insane or just plain bad, is completely understandable. You are not a bad mother. You are not well and the illness is not you. You are not alone. – Alexandra

Love yourself!!! You are amazing and your babies will always need you! Leave anyone or anything that is toxic and never be scared to ask for help! There are so many people who love you! Some just don’t know how to help! Speak to a doctor or a friend get help! This world needs you! Your babies need you! Stay strong because being a mom is the hardest most blessing job we will ever have! – Amber

Please get help as soon as possible. You don’t want to get as bad as I am. – Anonymous

Get help. Don’t suffer in silence. It’s more common than you think. – Nicole

Get help as quick as you think something isn’t right. Talk to other moms who you can relate to. Surround yourself with a positive support system. Hang in there. – Anonymous

If the symptoms are out of control for the love of God go to the hospital and admit yourself! It is not scary and they can fix you before it gets even worse…which it will without treatment. – Brittany

Get help don’t hide the fact that you need help it only makes it harder and worse for you. It’s okay to need help. – Jodi

Talk to your doctor even if you just feel a tiny bit off. Earlier the better. – Anonymous

Say something! Immediately. What may seem minor can become something major in the blink of an eye. – Ashley G.

Get help from a professional and find a support network. – Anonymous

Seek help as soon as possible – this is just a temporary thing and it WILL get better! It’s such a common thing, but people are still scared to talk about it. – Amanda

You are important. Get a support system in place. Plan the feeding schedule together. Have him take a night feeding so you can sleep more than two hours at a time. Lack of sleep was my downfall. Don’t be afraid to supplement with formula, it saved my sanity when I wasn’t able to produce enough milk. – Anonymous

Grace. Give yourself grace. Make sure to get rest. Ask for help or accept it. Get out of the house every day. Take time away from the kids. Seek help. – Katy

IT WILL GET BETTER! No matter how bad it feels and how doomed you feel it really will go away. Its very hard to believe that. I felt doomed with my first case, and it got better. I thought for sure if I got it with my second I would know that it would get better and be prepared. But it felt so intense I needed reassurance. But it really really does get better! You will grow to love your baby/babies. It doesn’t matter how long that may take. You matter too. Stay strong! – Samantha

Don’t be ashamed and don’t be scared to admit that you are suffering and that you need help. We are humans we are not super mommies. Our babies need us healthy and if all it takes is to see a professional and get the help that we need that’s what we will do. – Anonymous

Be vocal and honest. Don’t try and hide it and pretend it’s not happening to you. Nothing to be ashamed of. Take care of yourself so when you baby is older, you will be the best mama ever! – Melissa

I have no idea. I struggled through it and it is the sole reason I won’t have another child. The mental break was too hard. – Marcella

You aren’t alone! Help is out there, if you don’t find the right supports, keep looking and advocating for yourself! – Anonymous

You are not alone. There is always someone, somewhere who understands and will listen if you reach out. – Emily

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Be honest with your feelings. Let someone know how you’re feeling. Talking and releasing those feelings will be a huge leap out of that dark place. – Lorena from Motherhood Unfiltered

Please seek help. There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s something you can not control but there is help out there and you deserve to be the best you, for you, and your baby. – Chelsea

Find your anchor. Whether than is your husband, a friend, or a family member, there is someone out there who will help you through this. You are not alone, even though you feel like you are. If you want to binge watch TV, eat a bag of chips, not clean your house, or whatever else, go ahead! Your baby won’t know the difference as long as they are cared for. And lastly, don’t believe social media moms, what you see on your phone is not real life. Chances are their house is just as messy and their baby screams just as much. – Kathryn

Get help. It’s not your fault, and don’t think it will just go away. – Anonymous

Talk to someone….anyone….seek medical help right away. I personally see how it effects you long term if left untreated and there are so many women in the same shoes. – Krista

That she is not alone and we are there to help. – Karen from Pregnancy and Postpartum Mental Health of Lancaster County

I made a point to pay attention and make a list of the all the things that triggered my PPD. And I was open with sharing that list with my friends and family. The more people you have on your side, the easier it will be for you to manage your symptoms. – Leah Elizabeth from Lottie & Me

Don’t be afraid to seek help or talk to someone about it. You’re not alone and you aren’t crazy. It’s something you cannot help but you cannot face it alone. Find somebody you can talk to. – Jessica

Seek help now. Call your provider. Call a friend, call your mom, call a nurse at the hospital, and make them listen to you. You do not need to suffer in this day and age. We can help you. Please please, for the sake of your health and your baby’s please call and ask for help and do not quit until someone helps you! I wish I would have all those years ago. I am a nurse on an OB unit now and I preach to all moms to take care of themselves. I know how hard it can be. I get it. – Theresa

Find a mom who went though this and talk to her often. Fill your day with positive words with that person. They can show you that there is life after PPD. If you can’t find someone like that, because I know I couldn’t, contact me. I’d also say that you need time to heal, but let your suffering have purpose. Need the help, but then be the help. – Amanda from Mom Like Me

Find someone who had been through it and get help. Talk about it, get out of the house even if just to go to Walmart and walk around, work out when you can, drink water, take natural supplements, listen to good wholesome music that will lift up your spirits. – Anonymous

Find a support group of moms who been through PPD, seek help , explore medications if recommend . You are not alone, your are not a unfit mom. You can not help what is going on, you are doing an amazing job and your baby needs you. You are loved. – Jacqueline from Planning in the Deep

Pay attention to the signs and signals and do not ignore them.– Haylie

Abso-freaking-lutely hire a Postpartum Doula!!!! It would have helped me IMMENSELY .– Crystal from Heart and Home Doula

You are not alone. Being a new mom is so incredibly hard but you are doing it right. It’s just that hard. You are a brave soul and you will get through this. – Anonymous

Seek help. – Anonymous

Don’t be afraid to ask for what you need and use all the support that is there. Don’t feel you’ve got to do everything on your own. – Anonymous

You are still a great mom. This will pass, and you will feel like yourself again. – Anonymous

Be real about it. Be honest about your emotions. Don’t tough it out and wait for it to go away. If you can’t make the call, ask someone else to do it for you. – Eda

Talk about it with someone you trust and that will listen. Preferably a close friend or counselor. Know you’re not alone. Take care of yourself so you can take care of your baby. – Anonymous

Talk to ANYONE AND EVERYONE. After I was arrested because of my psychosis I have had moms contact me for years still afterwards saying they have felt that way. I tell everyone my experience, no shame. Hoping to help someone and help myself still. – Kathleen

Get help, talk to a doctor. Find a baby sitter to watch the kids even if you have to be around. Just to get some time to yourself. – Stephanie

Take time away from the baby to go through a process of healing and discovering yourself because you are a new woman. Letting go of the old parts of you is a grieving process that deserves it’s own time and space. You will be refreshed and experience renewed joy and presence once you grieve for the lost parts of yourself you are saying goodbye to now that you are a mother. You will be able to welcome the beautiful experience of motherhood is a new light and feel so empowered and grateful. -Yonat from Embodied Therapy Santa Rosa

Please talk to your doctor before you talk to family. When you have a diagnosis, family is best to talk to then. You don’t need their input. – Beth

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

These moms have been through it all and know what it’s like. You can hear the desperation in their words because they wouldn’t wish this on their worst enemy. “You are not alone, get help, find a support system, take care of yourself…” there is a common theme among the advice they give. Perhaps you’ve heard it all before and you’re still hiding in the shadows trying to deal with this on your own. But it’s time for you to come forward and seek the help you need.

What now?

This is the last of the 10 questions about postpartum depression but it’s not the last you’ll hear about it, at least not from me. You’ve heard from real women, anonymous moms, medical professionals and mental health advocates. Their stories are real and they had the courage to speak up and do something about it. If you are suffering from postpartum depression, or think you might be, then here are some steps I suggest you take.

1. Sign up for the postpartum depression survival guide email list.

You’ll get regular e-mails each designed to help you fight your battle as well as a monthly update about everything happening on Running in Triangles. You also get immediate access to the Postpartum Depression Free Resource Library filled with tools to help you in different areas such as telling your story, creating a self care routine and more. Click here to sign up.

2. Perform a Self Assessment

If you’re not sure if you have postpartum depression, or if you haven’t begun any type of treatment yet, then the first step is to perform a self assessment of your symptoms. Being aware and mindful of your condition will empower you to make the right decisions for your health and well being. Click here to read more about how to do this.