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New moms worry about a lot things. It isn’t uncommon to worry about whether your baby is healthy, whether or not you’re doing things right, or are struggling to balance everything in your life. Learning to identify anxiety and finding the right solutions to help with anxiety are things every new mother can benefit from. Most new-mom anxiety can be treated with simple home tips, but if things get too bad, you may need to seek professional help.
How to tell if you have anxiety
It’s important to understand the symptoms of new-mom anxiety. Some of the things to look out for include waking up at all hours of the night to make sure the baby is OK. New-mom anxiety may also be getting overly anxious when leaving your baby with a caretaker. You may find yourself Googling everything and worrying about every disease or ailment and calling the pediatrician repeatedly.
Ultimately, new-mom anxiety means you’re constantly on edge worrying that any little thing may adversely affect the health and welfare of your newborn baby. Keep in mind that postpartum anxiety and postpartum depression are not the same things; however, if your symptoms are extreme enough, you may need to seek help from a mental health professional.
When does postpartum anxiety become postpartum depression?
“New-mom anxiety becomes postpartum depression when the anxiousness and stressful feelings permeate every area of life, as opposed to matters, which, strictly speaking, relate to the care of the baby,” Jamie Bacharach, a licensed medical acupuncturist and mental health coach, told Mom.com.
New-mom anxiety typically relates to the health and welfare of your child, whereas depression affects your other relationships in the home and out of the home. Bacharach continued, “For example, becoming disenchanted with your loved ones or partner would represent a symptom of postpartum depression, as opposed to new-mom anxiety.”
How to ask for help
If you are experiencing a lot of anxiety as a new mom, getting help sooner rather than later is important to prevent it from affecting your life and potentially progressing into postpartum depression or anxiety disorders. The first thing to keep in mind is that it’s normal to feel anxious with a new baby, especially your first baby. Everything is new and a little life is on the line.
Join a moms’ group and talk to other moms about what you worry about. You’ll realize that you aren’t alone with your anxiety and may even find a few common areas to laugh about, like the time you disinfected the disinfectant container.
If you feel your anxiety is still out of the normal range and doesn’t subside with experience, seek help from a mental health professional. They can best help you determine what are normal and rational anxieties and how to cope with the rest.
Tips to help when stress and anxiety creep in
Make sure you find solutions to help with stress and anxiety as a new mom. Here are a few tips to help you:
- Talk to other moms about what you worry about
- Bring serious medical or safety concerns to your pediatrician’s attention, so she can help you decipher what to really worry about
- Babyproof the house – get a professional to do this if you don’t think you can do it right
- Take a CPR and first-aid class – learn how to handle emergency situations like choking, unconsciousness, and allergic reactions
- Meditate or do yoga – finding the time to settle everything in your mind and body permeates through the rest of your day
- Seek professional help if things are too much — mental health professionals can help you understand why you’re so anxious and help develop solutions
- Remember that there’s no shame in reaching out for help — or taking medication if your doctor feels it’s necessary for your situation.
New mom Yumnah Syed-Swift admitted that she has to remind herself that a lot of what she fears might happen are things that are merely part of growing up. “While I don’t want him getting hurt, I remind myself it’s a normal part of being a kid and remember things are OK,” Syed-Swift told Mom.com.
How to treat anxiety naturally
Believe it or not, sometimes most of what you need to deal with new-mom anxiety is right in front of you. A day at the park with your baby and other moms or having your husband watch the baby while you go to yoga class are healthy remedies for mom anxiety.
Know that experience helps reduce anxiety. The first time your baby gets sick might be one of the most frightening nights of your life, and then you learn what to do and what to look for. It’s just like the stress of a new job, as you get experience, you know what to expect and feel more confident in handling different situations.
