The baby blues... What are the baby blues?


The baby blues are a normal part of motherhood and are linked to hormonal changes that happen during the week after giving birth and most women will experience changes in their mood. You may feel irritable, tearful, irrational, depressed or anxious. If these symptoms last more than two weeks and are interfering with you caring for yourself and your baby this may be a sign that you have developed post natal depression. So don’t suffer in silence, talk this through with your health professional.


It’s perfectly OK to feel both happy and fearful of this new responsibility. The reality of parenthood may not hit you until you leave the hospital and feelings of being overwhelmed and fretful are common.


To help reduce the symptoms of ‘baby blues’:-


Helping parents and families...


M


any parents need help with young children. If you are a new parent, need help relating to your partner, children or step-children, or your relationship has ended, Relate can help.


They offer counselling for individuals, couples and families, sex therapy, telephone and online support and workshops including parenting skills, confidence building, life after divorce, and separated parents.


For information on services in Birmingham and Solihull contact them on 0121 643 1638 or info@relatebirmingham.co.uk or www.relate.org.uk


Registered Charity No. 1053946. Company No. 3174040. Relate Birmingham registered office address is 111 Bishopsgate Street, Birmingham B15 1ET.


Relationship Problems? Need Support as a Parent? Changes in Your Family?


Relate Can Help:


Relationship Counselling Family Counselling Sex Therapy


Telephone/Online Support Parenting Workshops


Separating Parents Sessions


Relate in Birmingham & Solihull Helping You with Family Life 0121 643 1638


info@relatebirmingham.co.uk www.relate.org.uk


Small Steps 13


1. Accept help: Reduce stress


Do one thing at a time, multi-tasking is a myth and will only increase your stress. Delegate the housework, and don’t turn down any offers of help. Remember, stress creates adrenaline and the production of stress hormones that increase anxiety.


2. Exercise


Once you have had the all clear, start walking. A daily ten to fifteen minute walk releases neurotransmitters in the brain and makes you feel better.


3. Baby asleep: Be kind to yourself Don’t fill your time with catching up on housework. Get some ZZZs, even if it’s just a 20 minute cat nap.


4. Mix with other parents


Even though your mind maybe critical and telling you that every other mother is coping better than you, just show up anyway, regardless of what your thoughts are saying. You may just make a lifelong friend.


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