Postpartum What?

In the hospital after you deliver your baby, they will tell you the warning signs of Postpartum Depression. They will tell you to tell someone if you experience them, because you could be a danger to your child. They will tell you that you will experience the "baby blues" sometime in the first six weeks and if they last longer than two weeks, GET HELP. What they will not tell you is this: it takes a very, very long time for some women's hormones to adjust back to normal (whatever that is, am I right? Ha.). Little things can make you cry for hours on end and maybe even make you question your decision to go through with this whole parenting thing. What I am going to tell you is this: it's alright. IT'S OKAY TO CRY. LET. IT. OUT. Even with all the support in the world, you will be overwhelmed. Your emotions will hit you like a speeding train out of nowhere. You cannot keep this inside, and you should not keep your tears to yourself. Let someone see you break down, and when they ask what they can do to help, do not try to be strong and independent. Tell them what you need, and let them do it for you. Do not feel guilty for allowing someone to help you in this brand-new-scary-as-crap journey. Let me say it again for y'all in the back. Do not feel guilty for allowing someone to help you! You are not a bad mother for accepting help. I, of course, don't follow any of this advice I'm dishing out. I cry by myself, at least once a week. I try not to ask any favors, because since I'm in school and work, I already get a lot of help. Every time something minimally negative happens, my anxiety goes through the roof and I can feel my insides melting. All I've wanted for the past 6 months is for someone to hug me and listen to what I have to say. But that's not the point here, I'm rambling. The point here is that postpartum hormonal issues are normal and WILL happen to you sometimes more than a year after bringing your miracle into the world. What is not normal, and you need to contact your doctor (not a friend/spouse/whatever) for, feeling like you want to hurt yourself or your baby, fear that you will go through with harming yourself or your baby, and depressions symptoms lasting more than two weeks.  Depression symptoms include: lack of energy, loss of interest in your favorite things, general aches and heaviness, and severe feelings of inadequacy. Do not be ashamed to get help. Do not let anyone make you feel like less of a mother if this happens to you. Do not let anyone tell you that Postpartum Depression doesn't exist. Tomorrow's post will be postpartum joys! It was supposed to be today's post, but I've had a hormone-heavy couple of days and I felt like someone out there needed my honesty. In summation: it's hard to keep your s**t together as a new mommy, and it's cool to cry it out.

Love y'all! ❤