Normalizing postpartum emotions
When you give birth, your body and your brain go through some amazing changes that are designed to help you bond with and protect your baby. These changes are natural and necessary, but they can also be challenging and overwhelming at times. And that's okay.
One of the things that you might experience as a new mom is anxiety and anger. These are normal emotions that have a purpose: they alert you to potential threats and motivate you to act on them. If you hear a loud noise outside, you might feel anxious and check on your baby. Or if someone tries to touch your baby without your permission, you might feel angry and tell them to back off. These are healthy responses that show you care about your baby's safety and well-being.
Humans are carrier mammals, meaning we carry our babies with us wherever we go. We are designed to receive biological feedback from our babies to help us understand what they need and provide security. As carrier mammals, our babies are the most immature at birth and need our help to survive. We are constantly in contact with our babies, feeling their warmth, their heartbeat, their movements. This gives us biological feedback that helps us regulate our emotions and hormones.
But in our modern society, we often don't get this feedback as much as we need. We might have to leave our babies in cribs, car seats, or strollers for long periods of time. We might have to deal with noise, crowds, or stressors that make us feel unsafe or overwhelmed. We might have to face unrealistic expectations or judgments from others about how we should mother our babies.
Although these emotions are important instincts that help you respond to you baby, sometimes they can get out of control. You might feel anxious or angry, even when there is no real danger. You might have trouble sleeping, eating, or enjoying yourself. You might snap at those close to you. You might feel guilty, ashamed, and isolated. If these feelings start interfering with your ability to function daily, they could be signs of postpartum depression or anxiety, which are serious conditions that require professional help. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional.
