10 Ways to Shake Those Baby Blues


Blogs are a fickle thing. Before I had the boy I loved reading blog posts about birth stories, the first few weeks of motherhood, etc. So initially I figured the first week home with my new baby would be all flowers and butterflies. I never read on any blogs, articles, or stories about how rough the first few days can be or about anyone who had a hard time with it. Maybe I just am one of the few who dealt with the baby blues.
Well I'm here to honestly say, the first week and a half of motherhood was rough.
I love my boy more than anything, and I was thrilled to finally have him here but when your hormones are out of whack, you feel totally hopeless. (Wow this sounds so depressing).
Luckily, these feelings eventually go away. As much as you think they won't and you'll feel this way forever, they really do go away.
I found that there were a few things that helped me feel at least a little peace and more like my chipper old self.

  1. Take a shower. Hand your baby off the the husband and take a shower, it's amazing how much it helps.
  2. Make yourself eat something. I had no appetite the first few days home but I made myself eat because not only did I need nourishment for breast milk but it made me feel a little better.
  3. Go outside. Again, hand the baby off to the husband and take a step outside for a minute. I went outside in my backyard and just cried and prayed to my Heavenly Father. I came back in feeling a little more like myself.
  4. Stay busy. I know they say to take it easy when you first get home from the hospital but when I just sat in bed, that's when my mind would start reeling and I would psych myself out. I noticed that if I kept busy by folding laundry or doing light house cleaning it kept my mind and body busy.
  5. Watch a tv show or movie that you would watch regularly before baby came. I have my few shows that I record and one day I decided to sit down while breastfeeding and watch one of my shows. It made me feel normal again.
  6. Talk to someone. When I was having one of my hysterical episodes I would call my mom or talk to Noah about how I was feeling and it always left me feeling calmer.
  7. Read uplifting material. I read some talks by LDS general authorities that really helped me understand the way I was feeling and realized I needed to trust in God more. Faith is so important and without it, we are nothing.
  8. Talk to God. Seriously, just pray. He knows exactly how you are feeling, just talk to Him.
  9. Take a nap. I found that at night I was in a lot worse shape, and it was probably because I was exhausted. So just go to sleep, you usually wake up feeling a little better.
  10. Last but certainly not least. Hold your baby, look into their eyes and talk to them, they are perfect and they have such sweet spirits, you can't help but smile when looking at the sweet face of a newborn.
Like I said, it was a rough first couple weeks, in fact I just started feeling more like myself yesterday. I was crying to my husband the other day and telling him I don't think I'll ever feel better. Well it's not true, it doesn't last forever and you start to feel like yourself in no time, just don't get discouraged. And remember to take it a minute at a time! 
I'm so grateful for the opportunity God has given me to be a mother to this sweet baby boy. I'm eternally in debt to Him for entrusting me with this sweet baby. 

Comments

  1. Hey this is really honest and wonderful. I just wrote a post about how blogs can sometimes seem like rainbows and butterflies and only the best stuff! Thanks for writing this!

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  2. this is a great post. i had a rough time with the babies blues & and felt like i was the only one in the world who went through it. i've actually written a lengthly heartfelt post about it but still have yet to publish it b/c well, to be honest, i just haven't had the guts. while i would never wish it on someone, it's consoling to know that your experience was similar. i think that unless you've been through it, it's very difficult to understand. but, i'm glad to hear you're feeling like yourself again. just give yourself time. i still have my moments (9 months later) but i'd say 99% of the time i feel like myself again. (i think the 1% that i feel "off" is just part of being a mom! ;)

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  3. It's nice to see someone else talk about out of whack emotions and hormones and not go on and on about how everything is unicorns and rainbows. It is wonderful but so overwhelming-especially when you're going on 3 hours of sleep for 48 hour stretches.

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  4. That is a truly beautiful picture. and beautiful honest words to go with it. Thanks for sharing this!

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  5. You are right! No one really talks about how tough it is. But I think more bloggers are starting too. It's like there is a secret club and until you go through it, then that is when you find out about it! :)

    My first few weeks were pretty bad... very bad actually.

    Your list is great! I wish I would've read it a year ago. :)

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  6. Thanks for sharing! I am also glad you are getting over it.
    -Tiffany

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  8. This article came out in the Ensign the month Asher was born. I really like to share it because it was exactly what I needed. I know baby blues is different then post-postpartum depression but it helped me understand more from a gospel perspective. I agree it's an incredible feeling to know our family and Heavenly Father are there for us. I love your list I think it's absolutely fantastic!

    http://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/08/managing-postpartum-depression-a-gospel-perspective?lang=eng

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  9. Allyssa- good for you for addressing this! After Josh was born I remember crying a lot andto feeling sad and thinking -why? This is the happiest thing that's ever happened, but it went away in about a week. When you are in it though it feels like it will never end. My heart truly goes out to those with postpartum depression. They often can't see the other side.
    its good to talk about baby blues. It's perfectly normal. Love you girl!

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  10. Allyssa- good for you for addressing this! After Josh was born I remember crying a lot andto feeling sad and thinking -why? This is the happiest thing that's ever happened, but it went away in about a week. When you are in it though it feels like it will never end. My heart truly goes out to those with postpartum depression. They often can't see the other side.
    its good to talk about baby blues. It's perfectly normal. Love you girl!

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  11. Thank you for sharing this! I'm not going through any kind of baby thing any time soon but I think about it all the time and this is good to know!

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  12. Thanks for sharing! I've had a couple good friends who were open and honest with me about the rough first couple weeks, so I'm trying to mentally prepare myself now to remember that my hormones are going to be crazy and that it doesnt' last forever. Your little man is so sweet!

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