New Mom, New Life – The More You Know!
Okay, seriously – let’s hear it for the moms and birthing parents! Pregnancy, giving birth, and taking care of a child is a magical transformative journey, but filled with very real, unique challenges. A mother or birthing person’s body sees tremendous change during pregnancy, during birth, and after the delivery of a child.
Did You Know?
Just before a baby is born, the mother or birthing parent’s hormones (progestin and estrogen) will skyrocket to the highest they will ever be (unless giving birth again) and then will plummet during the delivery of the child or right after delivery. This is when you hear folks talk about the “baby blues'' or symptoms progressing and becoming more severe, turning into postpartum depression or anxiety. As if that hormonal rollercoaster wasn’t enough, oxytocin will then flood the parent’s system, which engages what we sometimes lovingly call the “parenting instinct.” Oxytocin, while affectionately known as the “snuggle drug” that supports bonding with the baby, can also increase symptoms of anxiety. Sheesh! This all starts to happen while a parent is still lying in a hospital bed after just bringing a new life into this world and maybe, for the first time, being referred to as a mom or as a parent. What. A. WHIRLWIND. And this is just the start - a birthing parent's gray matter in the brain will change, too! Yes, really, the brain physically changes – does someone have a trophy for parents after all this? Another hormone called prolactin will change, the thyroid will change, adrenal glands, hair, teeth, eyes, skin, nails are all subject to change… along with all the other physical body parts impacted during birth, delivery, and possible breastfeeding. After all of those changes happening to the body, we also see changes in sleep schedules, social life, relationships, and career/professional life! So really, let's hear it for these magical human beings.
Checking In With Yourself
While I may be a little biased as a mental health professional myself, I feel strongly that going through all these physical and emotional changes might benefit from meeting with a therapist, but I totally get that there are other things on the to-do list as a new parent. Check in with yourself and your partner for possible signs of postpartum depression or anxiety. If you notice any of these signs, that’s your cue to call and make a therapy appointment: severe anxiety, losing interest in all previously enjoyable activities, having disturbing thoughts, or feeling fearful around your baby. Any of these symptoms can feel scary and isolating, but know this: you are not alone! Postpartum depression & anxiety is the most common complication for women who just had a baby in the US. In addition to therapy, seeking specialist care that can support through a biological and medical lens can be super helpful. For example, our holistic medical care team includes a Postpartum Support International provider, Jennifer Spicer, PA-C. With all of this change, it might feel hard to take care of yourself on top of taking care of a new baby. In upcoming blog posts, we will go through some ways new moms can implement some self-care while navigating caring for a newborn. To all the new moms reading this and learning how to navigate motherhood - you got this!
