What are the symptoms of postpartum depression? by Fanny Naturo

The period following childbirth is often intense, which is why it is useful to prepare for it in advance, during pregnancy.

Full of nuances and sometimes contradictory emotions, the arrival of a baby causes upheavals: wonder, relief at having gone through childbirth, fear of not doing well, misunderstanding of one's child, worries, breastfeeding difficulties, love, and fusion with this newborn...

What is the postpartum period?

The term "postpartum" refers to the period following childbirth and the arrival of a baby.

This intense period can be experienced wonderfully or be a significant challenge...

The media projects an idealistic image of this period: everyone is beautiful, happy, and in great shape!

The reality is sometimes far from this idyllic image, especially in our society where we are not well-supported, and women often find themselves alone at home with their newborn.

What are the symptoms of the postpartum period?

The postpartum period can be experienced in different ways by each woman, depending on each pregnancy.

Some women will feel just a little tired, while for others, symptoms may lean towards depression or even depression: intense fatigue, uncontrollable crying, irritability, lack of self-confidence, fears, or even anxiety, etc...

These psycho-emotional symptoms are often accompanied by a lack of sleep, nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and various unmet intense needs.

Intense fatigue and depression generally regulate themselves, while for some women, a deeper depression will set in and require specific support.

What are the causes of postpartum depression?

The causes of baby blues are multiple:

• The hormonal drop occurring a few days after birth can correspond with the signs of temporary depression in many mothers, but not all!

  If the symptoms of depression persist and worsen, it is important to consult and seek support.

  • Accumulated fatigue, lack of sleep, stress... the mother may feel exhausted, powerless, overwhelmed by all the tasks to be accomplished and the responsibility of taking care of a baby.
  • Exhausting childbirth, medicalized childbirth far from the birth plan, powerlessness, misunderstanding... some mothers may feel sad for not having experienced an ideal, easy, fulfilling childbirth.
  • Crying, difficult feedings, "baby with intense needs." It is sometimes complicated to understand and meet the needs of a newborn and to feel confident, valued, and serene, especially for a first-time mother.
  • Lack of support, feeling alone with this child and daily responsibilities, various remarks, and advice from the surroundings, medical staff... All this can generate great confusion for parents, especially the mother.

If the symptoms are temporary, if the depression does not alter the mother's judgment and relationship with her baby, a few natural adjustments will likely be enough to find balance.

How long does the postpartum period last?

The duration of the postpartum period varies!

Officially, the postpartum period is considered to last 6 weeks.

In many traditions, the woman is considered to be in the postpartum period for 4 to 6 weeks and is completely relieved of all family responsibilities, household chores, and work, with the community taking care of all these needs so that the mother can fully dedicate herself to welcoming and accompanying her baby and recovering her energy.

Others consider the postpartum period to be the time between the baby's birth and the return of menstruation, which can occur a few weeks, a few months, or even years after the baby's arrival!

Personally, I like to tell parents that having a baby involves: 9 months of preparation, 9 months of pregnancy, and 9 months of recovery and discovering their baby.

The duration doesn't matter. What counts is finding the rhythm and support so that the mother, baby, father, and any siblings feel good and find balance.

For some families, this takes a few days, even weeks, while for others it remains a constant challenge for several years.

How to prevent postpartum depression?

It seems really important and very useful to prepare for this intense period that follows childbirth.

Prepare yourself during your pregnancy and don't wait until the end of the pregnancy!

1) Inform yourself about childbirth, parenting, and the arrival of a baby.

The better you experience your childbirth, the better you should feel afterward.

Also, get information about breastfeeding. If you wish to breastfeed, read books, attend information meetings... Read about proximal parenting, meet young mothers, open up the possibilities so that you can support your child in a way that truly suits you.

2) Stock your cupboards!

Stock up because you will be hungry, need nutrients, and have little time and energy to prepare good meals after the baby arrives!

Dried fruits, oleaginous, seaweed, fresh spirulina, pollen, sea water, omega-3 rich oils, sprouted seeds, lacto-fermented foods, etc...

Also, think about filling the freezer with raw gourmet preparations (cake, makis) and cooked preparations (soups, your favorite homemade dishes: ratatouille, vegetable curry, for example).

Have healthy, nutrient-rich, and ready-to-eat foods available.

3) Prevention!

Remember to rest and adapt your diet during your pregnancy to avoid postpartum exhaustion.

Anticipate, and get support from a naturopath before, during, and after pregnancy.

The latter will establish a pregnancy preparation plan with you, in pre-conception, a plan for each trimester of pregnancy, and also a postpartum plan to meet your exceptional needs related to pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.

Also, consider getting support from a midwife you trust, who listens to you, understands your approach, and your requests. Think about a doula, who will have this caring presence and can support you at the end of pregnancy, during childbirth, and postpartum, try haptonomy, prenatal yoga, or other natural, gentle, and caring support...

4) Cleanse, balance, and nourish the mother's body to experience a more balanced and fulfilling pregnancy and postpartum.

A body that is not fully operational, overloaded with toxins for example, will have more difficulties than if you offer a good cleanse, a detox cure, and meet your needs at different levels in a preventive and holistic way, before or during pregnancy.

But it's never too late! You can always act to seek balance!

Don't wait for postpartum to take care of yourself. Act in advance, preventively.

Take care of yourself, your health, and your child's health...

I am myself a mother of three children and have experienced three different pregnancies and postpartums.

With hindsight on myself and the women I have supported for years, I can see the importance of preparing the body, cleansing the body, nutrition, knowledge, information, caring support, and much more...

I am committed to supporting women, couples, and families so that this period can be experienced in the best possible way, to create a bond with their child, and to experience fulfilling motherhood and parenthood, each in their own way.

The post-partum period for fathers?

The post-partum period can also be intense and sometimes difficult for fathers and co-parents.

Short nights, intense emotions generated by all these changes, the mother's fatigue...

The combination can disrupt the couple's balance and the family's equilibrium.

It is important for the father to find his place, in his own way, starting from the pregnancy to best experience this period.

Once again, no dogma, each couple must find the best possible balance, and there is no single model.

It is up to us to reinvent the ideal framework so that everyone can thrive while meeting the baby's needs and your own, in your own way...

The father may also need support and listening, and it will be beneficial for him to take care of his health and vitality to care for the baby, support his partner, and find a proper internal and external balance, facing the numerous demands of this intense period...

How to overcome post-partum depression?

To get out of this impasse, seek help and resources:

• Feeling understood and listened to is important. Your loved ones, a therapist, a specialized naturopath, a psychologist, seek guidance based on your needs and what suits you
• Ask for help and support for daily organization, to take care of yourself, the older children, the house, the baby,
• Rest regularly during the day,
• Have a nutrient-rich diet, full of vitality to meet your intense needs,
• Gently cleanse your body after birth, support your body with plants, water, internal and external care tailored and personalized to your condition, needs, and possibilities,
• Get support to find solutions, to avoid depression, to get out of the impasse, to create a bond with the baby, to regain your energy, and to enjoy this period of discovery with the baby.

To summarize,

• As a preventive measure, prepare for the post-partum period as early as possible
• Organize yourself in advance
• Have a diet full of vitality
• Rest, ask for help and support from your loved ones
• Get support from a specialized naturopath

* In case of emergency: Contact your doctor, emergency services, a psychiatrist, or a support association

Contact: fannynaturo@mailo.com 06.64.23.11.38