Making Mama Well

Can I get a hands up if you've had a "bad moment" this week mama? Bad moments happen. We run late, we forget things, we lose our temper, use bad language or forget to role model what we value. We are not perfect and that's ok. It can be easy to allow a bad moment to trigger a downward spiral; this happens to the best of us but is especially pervasive if struggling with postpartum anxiety or depression. ... So, how to recover from a bad moment? Take a step back from the shame cycle and stop yourself from turning "I had a bad moment" into "I am a bad mom". Remind yourself that we all have hard moments and the goal is not perfection. Where possible, take a time-out. Sometimes bad moments come from feeling overwhelmed, overstretched or tired. If you have support on hand, step out for a solo walk or a coffee. If you're solo parenting take a moment alone in the bathroom to practice some deep breathing or grounding exercises. Repair. Our children need to see us make mistakes and apologise. Treat bad moments as an opportunity to teach them about making amends, forgiveness and moving forward. If your bad moment was with your spouse, make an effort to repair things in front of your child; children rarely get a chance to see adults make up after arguments as we tend to "talk things out" once they're in bed. These are great learning moments for the whole family. Once apologies have been made focus on moving forward. #momlife #anxiety #anxious #busymom #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #maternity #fightanxiety #pregnancy #mommylife #postpartum #anxiousmom #pmad #ppd #postpartumdepression #ppa #pnd #warriormom #mom #depression #mommy #maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #postpartumprogress #honestmotherhood #climbout #motherhood

Starting today I will be doing a series on medications that are often considered as part of the treatment for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Follow @makingmamawell for more information on this topic. Importantly, medication decisions must be made with your family doctor or reproductive psychiatrist where an informed plan can be created that weighs out your own individual risk factors as well as potential benefits. The information shared in this series is for educationa...l purposes only and not intended to be used as personal medical/prescriptive advice. Different medications are offered under different circumstances, so what might be right for one mama may not suit another. When medication decisions are being made in pregnancy and breastfeeding; it is important to remember that no decision is without risk. Choosing to pursue medication as part of your treatment has risks and benefits; but choosing NOT to take medication when you genuinely need it also has risks that can negatively impact both mama and babe. There is no perfect medication (this includes all medications, even natural health supplements) but there are many SAFE medication options; and importantly your baby benefits from a mentally healthy mama in so many ways. Treatment of mental health conditions with medication should always be a piece of the puzzle; not the only intervention. Mental health conditions respond best to a "multi-modal" approach, meaning psycho-education/self-help, counselling, supportive group programming, lifestyle changes and at times, medication. Where possible; it's best to start with the non-medication options first; but for some mamas the suffering may be so severe that medication may be offered up right away. This is a decision best made with your care team after weighing your own individual circumstances and capacity to engage in non-medication treatment options. How is your mental health today mama? #momlife #anxiety #anxious #busymom #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #maternity #fightanxiety #pregnancy #mommylife #postpartum #anxiousmom #pmad #ppd #postpartumdepression #ppa #pnd #warriormom #mom #depression #mommy #maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #postpartumprogress #honestmotherhood #climbout #motherhood

Follow @makingmamawell for more content on mental health in new motherhood. As many as 20% of pregnant and postpartum people suffer from a mood or anxiety disorder. This can be hard to talk about and is not something you can just snap out of spontaneously. While all pregnant/postpartum people are at risk of developing these disorders; there are some factors that put certain individuals at greater risk: Personal/family history of mood/anxiety disorders outside of pregnancy... Personal/family history of perinatal mood/anxiety disorder Previous pregnancy loss or stillbirth Previous infertility Previous traumatic birth Victim of sexual assault or trauma Unplanned pregnancy Unpartnered Lower socioeconomic status High levels of external stress But what do risk factors even mean in the end? The more you have the higher your risk? Not necessarily. Like many things in medicine, risk factors are not a definitive science, they are more like a complicated art. We don't always understand why some people with MANY risk factors manage to avoid developing an illness and others with little to no risk factors end up getting terribly sick. Usually, it's a combination of a number of factors; not any one specific thing. Importantly; if you do develop a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder it is NOT your fault. Knowing your risks does not mean you have to sit around waiting for the other shoe to drop. It does mean you should take good care of yourself using the NESTS strategy; that you should make an effort early to develop coping strategies for mood and anxiety symptoms and you should make sure those closest to you know to be on the lookout for warning signs of a disorder. #momlife #anxiety #anxious #busymom #comparisonisthethiefofjoy #maternity #fightanxiety #pregnancy #mommylife #postpartum #anxiousmom #pmad #ppd #postpartumdepression #ppa #pnd #warriormom #mom #depression #mommy #maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #postpartumprogress #honestmotherhood #climbout #motherhood

Sleep is so important to overall well-being and mental health. Our culture has notoriously glorified sleep deprivation at the expense of productivity and many of us walk around utterly exhausted. New parenthood is no exception; but instead of work, social life or errands keeping you up - it's a teeny tiny human. While lack of sleep is par for the course with new babies; having some insight into what is normal, what to expect and how to create a healthy sleep strategy in your ...Continue reading