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You are not weak; postpartum depression happens to many women

Posted on 28/02/2022 - 18:58 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

When you become a mother, you face a series of expectations from your family, partner, and society. They make you believe that keeping everything under control and keeping what you feel to yourself is synonymous with strength. Little is said about emotions after giving birth, much less about postpartum depression.

Motherhood transforms you. The arrival of a life that depends 100% on you can be overwhelming, especially when you think that you will no longer be the same as before. If you add the changes in your body after childbirth and the ups and downs of emotions caused by hormones, you perceive yourself as very vulnerable.

Many women experience sadness after their baby’s birth. They may have mood swings, feel anxious, overwhelmed, have crying spells, lose their appetite, or have trouble sleeping. These feelings usually go away within a few days or a week of having the baby and are known as baby blues or postpartum blues.

However, the symptoms of postpartum depression last longer and are more severe. The National Library of Medicine explains that the new mom can feel hopeless and helpless, leading to disinterest in her child.

Moms can feel sad after giving birth. Photo: Pixabay

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A roller coaster of emotions

Many moms keep their emotions to themselves and don’t talk about postpartum depression for fear of being judged. Ani Cuartas, a lactation consultant, says, “Motherhood is a roller coaster of emotions; when your baby is born, on the one hand, you are happy, but you are also haunted by the thoughts that you will no longer be the same”.

People tell you, “You became a mother; your baby is healthy. Why are you crying? Why are you not happy? Why do you miss your old life? You feel like you are in a stadium, and all the lights are pointed at you; in the event of any failure, they point you out. It is a process that very few of us talk about, but it is very important to speak about it; motherhood is a roller coaster, full of emotions”.

Ani says that the love for your child is “the greatest you can feel on the planet”, but becoming a mother implies a reorganization of your activities and that your life will never be the same.

“These are normal things that happen to us due to hormonal change and due to grief, although the word sounds ugly. It is grief because our old self dies and a new self begins… Seeing your child be born, holding him in your arms is the most divine thing that can happen to you as a woman, but you do go through many hormonal, physical, and psychological changes”.

Motherhood can arouse mixed feelings. Photo: Shutterstock

What is postpartum depression?

It is a severe affective mental disorder. Its main symptoms are sadness, high levels of tiredness, sleep disorders, and high cortisol levels, details the World Health Organization (WHO).

Postpartum depression is more common than you think; 1 in 7 women go through it during the first year of their child’s life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, while in Mexico, it is estimated that 23% of women mothers suffer from it, reveal data from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP).

Remember that postpartum depression is not a sign of weakness or being a bad mother but is part of the change you go through when your baby is born.

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Causes

Although there is no single cause of postpartum depression, the Mayo Clinic discusses some contributing factors:

Physical changes: After your child’s birth, there is a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels. In addition, the decrease in hormones produced by the thyroid can lead to tiredness, laziness, and depression.
Emotional problems: When you have not slept and feel overwhelmed, it can be difficult for you to deal with everyday situations, making you doubt your ability to care for your newborn, along with feeling less attractive and losing your identity or control of your life can contribute to postpartum depression.

Hormonal changes and emotions contribute to postpartum depression. Photo: Pixabay

When should you ask for help?

Mayo Clinic recommends that if symptoms persist or take on these characteristics:

They don’t disappear after two weeks
The worsen
They make it difficult for you to take care of your baby
They make it difficult for you to complete your everyday tasks
They include thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby

It would help if you went to a specialist for proper treatment.

Translated by: Ligia Mabel Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

During breastfeeding, there is a crush of love between mom and baby

Posted on 28/02/2022 - 10:04 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

Movies, television, and everything around you make you idealize motherhood. They have made you see that the moment you breastfeed your baby for the first time will be magical, and your connection will happen immediately. It is not always that way. Fatigue after childbirth, emotions, and myths make breastfeeding difficult.

When you become a mom, you face endless doubts, and every day you discover new things that are a challenge. Breastfeeding is one of them because it is as if it were your first exam on how to be a mother; if you do not do it well, people will judge you, and then you will assume that you are a bad mother so you hesitate to ask for help.

Do not feel bad for not being able to breastfeed your baby; the lack of support and information is one of the obstacles to breastfeeding in Mexico; only 31% of babies are exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, according to Unicef.

Calm down; not everything has to be perfect, you are learning, and you will often make mistakes. You are not alone; many women want to help and accompany you in this new adventure. Ani Cuartas, a lactation consultant, tells you about her experience.

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From rage to love

Ani remembers her first time facing breastfeeding as the most significant challenge she had as a new mom; emotions and fatigue combined against her; postpartum depression made it more difficult for her to breastfeed her little Julia.

“I didn’t think I would last breastfeeding for six months; at first, it seemed that it was the most demanding, exhausting. Physical exhaustion and hormones made me feel angry about breastfeeding.”

The first month of breastfeeding was not pretty for Ani, so she started supplementing with formula.

“I wanted to feel that I was the good old Ana María that could go out for coffee, but I couldn’t do it because Julia had to eat and everything depended on me. I suffered very strong baby blues. So I complimented my daughter with formula initially because I said that not everything could depend on me”.

Julia started having reflux and constipation; she complained while she slept; this alarmed Ani and made her feel very guilty. She changed her pediatrician, who told her that her milk was of good quality, and she recommended stopping formula. Her daughter recovered, and Ani fell in love with breastfeeding.

“I felt that I was making my daughter sick because of depression and lack of accompaniment”.

One in seven women suffers from postpartum depression, which can occur at any time during the first year of giving birth; this is why women experiencing this condition require much more support for breastfeeding, warns the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Postpartum depression makes breastfeeding difficult. Photo: Pixabay

The crush

Once her baby was healthy again, the much-talked-about connection between mother and child when breastfeeding was born.

“I was alone in the house with her; I was breastfeeding her, and Julia unlatched, looked at me, smiled at me for the first time, looking into my eyes. She then went back to breastfeeding. There I said, Here is the connection”.

Ani tells mothers, “This connection with their children is not always immediate, as people would make you believe on television since women go through a very complicated process after giving birth. At such times, what you need most is support and the right information at the right time.”

“I completely fell in love with breastfeeding, I liked it so much that I breastfed my daughter for one year and nine months, I liked it so much that I became certified as a lactation consultant to support and accompany moms in this process”.

The mother-child connection during breastfeeding may not be immediate. Photo: Pixabay

Ani invites all mothers to seek help when they need it, “It is essential to have a support network so that you do not feel alone”.

She also tells us that in March, she will launch a recipe book in which she combines “The experience of being a mother and making delicious, healthy and easy food for my daughter, together with a gastro pediatrician so that we have dishes that are safe and that we contribute to our children”.

If you want more advice from Ani Castro, follow her on mujermamavilla.com

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

6 breastfeeding positions: How can I carry them out?

Posted on 27/01/2022 - 17:55 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

When our baby is born, we want to do everything perfectly. Every moment is new, and breastfeeding is no exception. We are concerned about feeding him properly. There are positions to breastfeed and facilitate this process. Do you know which ones they are? We share with you 6 breastfeeding positions and how to carry them out.

Breastfeeding has multiple benefits; it is a way of transmitting defenses against diseases to our children, but it is also a moment of intimacy with the little one in which we generate emotional ties.

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable; find the position in which you feel best. Remember that you must wash your hands before and after breastfeeding.

María Fernanda González Lazcano, lactation consultant, commented that it is not normal that breastfeeding hurts. She highlighted the importance of having a good technique in which you enjoy that moment of closeness with your baby.

“There is no one position that is the best; the best is the one in which the mother and the baby adapt. There are some in which the mother or the baby is not comfortable and must be changed. The position does not mean this is what you have to do. It’s about being comfortable and getting results.”

Breastfeeding positions facilitate this moment; choose the one that makes you feel most comfortable. Photo: Shutterstock

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The Nemours Kids Health organization recommends the following postures:

Cradle hold

It is the most common. It consists of carrying your baby in your arms, with his head resting on the crook of your arm, so that your little one’s nose is facing your nipple. You can support your breast with your free hand.

In this position, you cradle your baby in your arms. Photo: Pixabay

Cross-cradle hold

It is a variant of the previous one, except that in this position, you take your baby’s head with the opposite hand to the side of the breast with which you will breastfeed, and your child’s body will rest along your arm. You can use a pillow and place it on your lap to bring him closer to you.

The advantage of this position is that it gives you more control of your child’s suckling, and by supporting his head with your hand, he has more of a hold on your nipple.

By supporting your baby's head, you have more control over her sucking. Photo: Shutterstock. — By supporting your baby’s head, you have more control over her sucking. Photo: Shutterstock.

The side-lying position

It is a very comfortable position for moms, especially those with a C-section, because the little one does not pressure the abdomen. It consists of lying on your side and placing your baby next to you so that his nose is in front of your nipple.

Wrap your forearm around him to bring it closer to you. You can roll up a sheet and put it under your child’s back to make him more comfortable.

If you had a C-section, this position would give you greater comfort. Photo: Shutterstock

The clutch or football hold

This position is also very comfortable for C-section moms and those with twins if they want to feed them simultaneously, and it also allows babies to take milk more efficiently.

Place a cushion close to your body and support the little one on his back with your arm. Use the palm of the hand of the arm with which you are supporting your child and position him so that his side is next to yours. His legs should be under your arm.

This hold helps mothers with twins. Photo: Nemours Kids Health

Laid-back hold

You can lie on your back, bare-chested, and place your baby on top of you in this position. Instinctively he will look for your nipple. This position is also used for the kangaroo mother care method and strengthens the bond between mother and child.

The closeness with your skin will make your little one look for your breast. Photo: Shutterstock

Koala hold

If your baby suffers from reflux, this position could prevent heartburn. It consists of sitting your little one on your leg so that he approaches your breast.

With the baby sitting on your lap, you will avoid reflux. Photo: Shutterstock

Regardless of the position you choose, you should be comfortable in all of them and have support for your back so that it is straight and relaxed to maintain the position during breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that if the mother is reclining or leaning forward, it can be difficult for the little one to latch on to the breast.

Maria Fernanda Gonzalez Lazcano, a lactation consultant, affirms, “The mother’s back has to be straight when she breastfeeds to avoid tension and pain”.

Cleaning and care

Dr. Josefina Lira, a gynecologist at Hospital Ángeles, comments, “Breast hygiene is very important during breastfeeding”. She recommends cleaning them with a damp cotton ball before and after each breastfeeding session.

In case of dryness in the nipple, apply a hypoallergenic cream that is not greasy so that it is not difficult to clean the area to breastfeed.

“A proper breastfeeding technique is important to avoid those cracks in the nipple. If there are cracks, the patient can express the milk mechanically, let it rest for a couple of days, and apply some healing cream. She can also wear a nipple shield, so she doesn’t interrupt breastfeeding”.

Do not forget that breastfeeding is a moment that you should enjoy. What position works for you?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

Anahí: When mom is sad

Posted on 21/01/2022 - 11:48 by Desarrollo WebAdictos

Sadness is a normal feeling in all human beings and it happens to us moms, too. Today I am going to tell you about something that has been hard for me and we are all still struggling: Covid-19. It just started when Emiliano came into our lives.

Every pregnancy is different. With Manu I did not experience any kind of sadness, I felt happy, but with Emiliano it was different. I can’t say I had postpartum depression. Everything was normal in my quarantine, but when that period passed, the next day, the confinement due to Covid-19 began.

The lockdown

In the face of the pandemic and the lockdown I had a very hard downturn. Like everyone, I felt uncertainty and fear. I was thinking, “I just brought this little human into the world and the world is falling apart”.

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We were locked down and that’s when I experienced a lot of sadness. I spent over six months without even sticking my nose in the door because I had a newborn. I felt like the world was crashing down and many scary thoughts haunted me.

Even today

Thank goodness, I no longer have all those fears, but it was very hard for me to go out again. Even today, Covid-19 remains a difficult topic. Like millions of people, the pandemic has affected me greatly and continues to be difficult for me. Then we went down with Covid, imagine, it was even harder!

Step by step

Little by little I understood that we have to carry on, we have to give it a try. And yes, you have to keep living. With the vaccines, we can already do certain things, but carefully, because the pandemic is not over yet.

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Be certain that everything will be alright

Like millions of mothers, my children are the ones who drive me the most. They give me hope and faith.

All human beings, women or men, must believe in something.

Whatever you want to believe in, but BELIEVE, because faith is our greatest strength. It is believing that everything will turn out well, but also having faith in yourself that you can keep on. You may not know how but visualize yourself with health, happiness and well-being. As dark as things may seem, be sure that all this will settle down, it will be over.

I don’t know if it will help you, but let me tell you about it because it has helped me a lot:

Do a lot of yoga and meditation.
Try to be in balance, in your center.

Obviously, like everyone else, I also have difficult moments, but I make an effort to try not to depend on anything external. We alone can give ourselves a cuddle and, believe me, it is what we need the most.

If you are one of those women who feel sad or depressed, for whatever reason, call it Covid-19 or postpartum depression, please ask for help.

I know it is easier to say it than to do it, many people may not have enough resources to look for a professional (because therapy is also very expensive), but try to talk about it.

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When you discuss your fears, sadness, or concerns with people you trust, you will automatically feel better. They can be your friends, your family, your partner, the closest ones. I can tell that doing this helps a lot and can get you out of a big hole.

The worst thing we can do when we are in a period of depression or sadness is to isolate ourselves, lock ourselves in our thoughts, keep everything inside…

So, I recommend that if you are feeling like this, talk about it. Bring out the things that are hurting inside of you. That’s what I would advise: shout it out, talk it over and over again until you feel better!

Byt if you can’t go to therapy or you don’t have that opportunity, then talk about it with the people who love you, who will respond to you from the heart and who will want to help you. Remember that you are not alone.

I am Anahí and I am looking forward to meeting you in my next article for Baby Creysi.

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Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version