Being a new mom is not easy. From birthing PTSD to baby blues, it takes a toll on mental health

Motherhood, while rewarding in many ways, also comes with a lot of hiccups. Most first time moms question their ability to provide care and support for their infants, but their uneasiness isn’t the worst part of being a mother. While pregnancy comes with bouts of mood swings, anxiety and in some cases even depression, the post-pregnancy phase, when the focus shifts on the infant, is also the time a new mother needs tremendous amounts of mental support.

A new mother deals with a host of mental health issues that often go unaddressed as the health of a newborn and the physical wellbeing (as opposed to the mental wellness) of the mother takes precedence. But, if not addressed on time, these disorders can lead to tremendous long-term stress and feed into other mental health troubles. Therefore, it is important to identify them, and treat them on time.

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Body Image Issues
Post delivery, the body doesn’t automatically go back to what it was before pregnancy. A woman is left with weight gain, loose skin, saggy and hanging stomach and stretch marks on various parts of her body, including hips and thighs. It can be hard for a new mom to accept this new body, and can cause her stress and anxiousness. At such a time, it is important not only for her to be kind to herself but also for people around her to treat her with love and care. In time, and with proper diet and exercise, the body will go back to its normal form but in the meantime if you feel that you are going onto a self loathing trip, and no amount of reassurance seems to work, seek professional help.

Baby Blues
Also known as postpartum blues, most mothers experience this after delivering a child. It is found in 80 percent of new moms, so the first thing to tell yourself if you are feeling upset, frustrated or having unusual mood swings is that, you are not alone. The second thing that you should remind yourself is that it is not your fault and does not reflect in any way on what kind of mother you are going to be. These mood swings happen due to hormonal fluctuation as a woman's body undergo a sea change during and post pregnancy. While it is a common mental health issue, and in several cases it resolves itself within a few weeks, if it persists more than that, we suggest that you talk to a professional as it can lead to postpartum depression.

PTSD From Birthing
As the name suggests, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) happens when a woman undergoes a very difficult pregnancy or birthing period. It can be the cause of long and painful baby delivery or a sudden emergency situation that may lead to cesarean section, or can threaten the lives of mother and the baby. The shocking experience of birthing can stay for years, and impact the mother's relationship with the child and others involved. Therefore, even if there are not many visible signs that the new mom is suffering from PTSD after a distressful delivery, consult a professional to rule out this disorder.

Difficulty Forming Bond With The NewBorn
While the mother-child bond has been glorified in many literature and proverbial tales, the instant connection between the two is not always bound to happen. The first thing to know is that it is okay if a woman doesn’t feel the motherly love oozing out of her right after delivering her child. It takes a lot of permutation and combination to find those connections, and it is okay if that doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, as the baby arrives, and your usual routine goes for a toss, it may seem extremely overwhelming to deal with the new child, but as you settle in and get the groove of things, chances are this problem goes away.

Post Delivery OCD
Perinatal Obsessive Compulsive Disorder plagues most new moms, as they obsessively worry about their children’s wellbeing, and to a certain extent this instinct helps them to be more vigilant and responsible mothers, and that’s a good thing. However, if this obsessiveness persists and interferes in the normal functioning of the person then it becomes acutely problematic and it requires urgent attention. If someone shows very heightened fear of germs or infections that can harm her newborn, or constantly set impossible standards of motherhood for herself, and continues to do so, that’s the cue to consult a psychologist.