You prepare for months, reading, studying and planning for the new baby who will soon share your life. Just a few days before that sweet baby comes into your life, you might feel like you’re ready and know how to be a great mom. But what happens after you bring that adorable package home? Do you really know what to do? You read and studied for months, but does it really prepare you for what you are about to experience?

You start to have doubts, your body is changing physically and emotionally, chemical substances flow that you did not even know you had. Why didn’t anyone prepare you for what you are experiencing these first few weeks?

Many moms prepare and feel like they are ready to be the best mom, but once you get home, things don’t feel comfortable or happy. Some moms start to feel sad and depressed, not understanding why depression would start to occur at a time that is supposed to be so hopeful and exciting. Postpartum depression starts to appear and you don’t know what to do.

One of the most important things to do before your baby is born is to listen to all of your feelings. Most moms who experience postpartum depression start to feel it before the baby is born. They have fleeting moments of sadness for no particular reason. Moms should talk to their OB / GYN about this as soon as possible.

Some doctors will determine that it would be a good idea for the mother to start antidepressants during the third trimester if the baby appears healthy, and especially if the mother has had any experience with depression in the past. Some expectant mothers may be very concerned about this. What if the medicine affects my baby while he’s still growing in the womb, plus moms can’t even take aspirin? Also, how does this affect my breast milk?

Well, there have been some studies on taking antidepressants during pregnancy and while breastfeeding your baby. Of course, there are some small risks associated with it, but many doctors take the position that the small risks associated with taking the drug far outweigh the risks of postpartum depression. Most believe that Zoloft is one of the least troublesome antidepressants of all the others.

In addition to looking for postpartum signs during pregnancy, moms should also be aware of their emotions after the baby is born, especially during the first week. Although moms may find themselves crying alone in the bathroom, they may feel embarrassed that motherhood is not as easy as they thought or as easy as other moms say. It is very important that moms do not hide these feelings from family and friends. Once a mother begins to experience those sad little moments, she should immediately tell someone, especially a close friend who is also a mother, or talk to her doctor.

Also, with all the new responsibilities mothers take on once the baby is born, this sometimes causes great concern to the new mother. This may be the first time a new mom has had full and complete responsibility for another person, and this can be a very overwhelming experience. Everything from making sure the baby is changed regularly to feeding every 2-3 hours can be absorbing on the new mom’s mind.

A very important and profound issue during pregnancy and after birth is your choice of feeding the baby. There is a strong advocacy for breastfeeding, for many good reasons. However, this is something additional to think about at a time when everything can seem overwhelming. For many mothers, holding the baby to the breast is a very comforting and natural experience for them, but for many others it is a great frustration with problems ranging from latching to worrying about how much the baby has consumed. If frustration begins to rise to a point of concern, such as anger at the baby, then other feeding options should be considered at this time.

However, a comforting thought is that you can still provide that wonderful and special breast milk to your baby without having to breastfeed. Pumping breast milk can be a wonderful alternative to breastfeeding. For moms who worry incessantly about how much breast milk their baby is consuming, pumping can be a good option to allow moms to really see what the baby is consuming. Plus, pumping can allow mom to get those few extra hours of sleep that will definitely help minimize some of the depression experienced by lack of sleep.

The most important thing to remember about postpartum depression is to let others, your husband, friends, doctors, and counselors know how you are feeling and to accept any help and support that is offered.

Copyright 2006, Wendy Williamson