Becoming a parent can bring unimaginable joy and excitement into your life. You may have decorated your nursery room with perfect furniture and a closet. But along with happiness, also comes an array of emotions such as anxiety and fear. Many new moms suffer from postpartum depression which is a long-lasting and severe mood disorder.

It can have an adverse effect on both the mother and child. If women stay quiet despite suffering from it, the condition remains untreated. Postpartum depression may go on for weeks or months without treatment. Since it is a psychological disorder, it is important to reach out to your healthcare provider.

Here are some effective tips to help you cope with postpartum stress.

Build a Bond with Your Baby

Between parents and children, there is a strong emotional bonding. With successful bonding, the child will feel safe enough to develop fully.

Having a strong relationship with their parents will help them communicate and form good relationships throughout their life. You can form a secure bond with your child if you respond to their needs such as picking them up and soothing them.

Below are some things that you can do to strengthen the bond with your baby:

• Skin-to-skin contact, to relax both you and your baby
• Massage your baby whenever you get the chance
• Smile more often when you look at your baby

Take Care of Yourself

The best way to relieve and prevent postpartum depression is to take care of yourself. With simple lifestyle changes, you can improve your mood and feel like yourself again.

Consume a diet rich in omega 3 which is mainly found in salmon and herring. Get enough rest and sleep between baby feeding hours. If you have friends and family nearby, you can call them over to look after your baby while you rest. Make sure to take some time out from your duties and catch up on your favorite show.

Start Exercising

If you exercise during the postpartum period, it will help you achieve better psychological well-being and ease the symptoms of depression. Staying physically active helps relieve stress, strengthen abdominal muscles, and promote better sleep.

Begin gentle exercises just a few days after birth if you have a healthy pregnancy. You can start by walking and even a 10-minute workout can benefit you. Watch online workout videos and try easy exercises from the comfort of your home

Build a Support Network

At a difficult time like this, you need good social interactions to reduce your stress levels. You also need emotional support to deal with the difficulties of life.

You can also consult a professional and attend grief counseling to better cope with the situation in the best way possible.

New mothers can easily feel lonely and overwhelmed by their new role. Receiving emotional support from others can help boost your self-esteem and confidence. You don’t need a lot of people to form a social network. Just having a few close friends who understand your condition is important.