Category: PPD

Things That Can Suck About Being Pregnant

February 8, 2010 | Filed under: Flower Essences, Herbs, Hormones, PPD, Pelvic Floor Work, Pregnancy, Reiki | Tagged | Comments (0)
  • No one ever says you have to be happy. In fact, a lot of women suffer from depression during pregnancy. Of course, this is talked about even less that Postpartum Depression, but it does exist. Yes, you are excited about having a baby and looking forward to being a mom and all that goes with it. But you might also be sad. And that’s okay. You don’t always have to be happy and glowing. Get rest, keep eating, talk to someone and try homeopathy.
  • Being pregnant hurts. Your gums bleed. Your teeth feel loose. Your pelvis gets wonky and your back sore. Your feet swell and you can’t wear your rings anymore. This is all a normal part of being pregnant, but that doesn’t mean you just have to deal. Go see a chiropractor to help with your muscle and bone aches. Drink oatstraw tea to help with bleeding gums. Rest as much as possible. Take care of yourself and your baby. Get a massage and try Reiki.
  • Sex may not be fun anymore. As pregnancy advances you may hate the idea of having sex. And that’s okay as well. You don’t have to have sex. The other option is to try to get creative with positions that accommodate your growing belly. Keep in mind that you probably won’t be having sex for the first 6 weeks postpartum and sex now may help you relax a little. But in the end, this is your body and you know best how you feel.
  • We spend our whole adult lives trying not to pee in our pants and then we get pregnant and we sometimes pee in our pants. Relaxin is a hormone that helps get your body nice and stretchy and ready for labor. This hormone, along with the pressure of the baby and uterus and amniotic fluid sitting right on top of your bladder, may cause you to accidently pee a little. It’s okay, nothing is wrong with you. This may also happen postpartum. You can visit a practitioner who does pelvic floor work or a chiro to help you on with this one.
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Postpartum Sleep – Yes, You Can Have It

September 23, 2009 | Filed under: PPD, Portland Doula, Sleep | Tagged , | Comments (0)

How to Get Enough Sleep in the First Weeks After Birth
Adapted and edited from a handout by Penny Simkin

To get enough sleep, you must take your need for sleep seriously, which is hard to do. They wind up sleep deprived and after several days or a week and fall apart. Baby care and everyday tasks become much more difficult than they should be. The following approach will help you get as much (or almost as much) sleep as you need. (It does not work as well if you have other children, unless you have help with them.)

• Calculate how many hours of sleep you used to need regularly before pregnancy in order to function well. Six hours? Eight hours? That is the amount of sleep you now owe yourself everyday

• Since you cannot get this amount of sleep in one stretch because of interruptions for feedings and baby care, you will require more hours in bed to get your allotted amount of sleep.

• Plan to stay in bed or keep going back to bed until you have slept your allotted number of hours. This means that with the exception of meals and trips to the bathroom, you do not get up. You do not brush your teeth, shower of dress in the early morning. Make a mental note of approximately how many hours you have slept since you went to bed (but try not to obsess about it). You may have to stay in bed from 10PM until noon the next day to get eight hours of sleep! If that’s what it takes, do it. Then brush your teeth, take a shower, dress, and greet the day.

• Many parents find it easier to follow this regime if their baby sleeps with them or nearby.

• As your baby grows and begins to sleep for longer stretches, it will take you less time to get enough sleep.

• Hiring a postpartum doula is also a great way to ensure you get enough sleep while baby is taken care of and the house isn’t falling apart while you’re snoozing.

Take your need for sleep seriously in order to prevent sleep deprivation. Sweet Dreams.

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PPD Tip Sheet

February 11, 2009 | Filed under: PPD, Postpartum Depression | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)

Baby Blues

  • 80% of women experience what is called “baby blues” which occurs around day 3 postpartum and lasts less than 2 weeks.
  • You may feel overwhelmed, sad, anxious, fatigued, or have no appetite.
  • Thoughts like “I don’t even want this baby” or “What was I thinking?” are normal. They don’t mean you’re a bad mother or will have them forever.
  • If you experience these thoughts after 2 weeks, you may have Postpartum Depression.

Postpartum Depression & Anxiety

  • About 10-15% of all postpartum women experience more serious depression and anxiety and can begin at any time during the first year after birth.
  • Risk factors include previous depression/anxiety or PPD, social isolation or poor support, abrupt weaning, history of premenstrual syndrome, mood changes while taking birth control pills and prenatal loss.
  • You may feel a sense of despair, want to sleep all the time or have insomnia, have frightening thoughts about your baby or yourself, feel constantly fearful about your baby’s health or be unable to get through your day to day activities.
  • Thoughts like “I’ll never be myself again”, “I’m a terrible mother”, “I just don’t care anymore” or “No one understands” are symptoms of PPD.


Coping With Postpartum Depression 

  • Talk to family or friends who can support you through this time. You want to ensure you are not alone and isolated. Access local support groups.
  • Express all your anger or sadness, keeping those feelings inside you won’t help you recover.
  • Look to the Internet and books to educate yourself on PPD.
  • Get as much sleep as you can. Rest when your baby does and don’t worry about keeping the house clean or friends entertained.
  • Ensure you are taking as much time for yourself as possible. Take a walk, a bath, get a manicure or read a book. Allowing yourself to reconnect with your spirit will help.
  • Consider talking to your health care provider, general wellness practitioner or therapist.
  • Pay attention to the good times and try to remain present in your day rather than worrying about the future or stressing over the past.


Your Postpartum Year

  • Baby Blues Connection is a local organization created to help mothers through PPD. They are available 24/7 by calling 503.797.2843. You can also find them at www.babybluesconnection.org
  • If you need additional referrals for therapists, psychiatrist, support groups, please let me know, I can help.
  • I am also available as a Postpartum Doula and can help you through this time by taking care of your baby while you spend time with yourself, helping around the house or just chatting.

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