Eating after baby: Eating right to help ease the symptoms of postpartum depression

Having a baby can be a positive experience for many mothers and fathers. In fact, we often have the expectation that we’ll feel happy and fulfilled as we welcome a new life into the world. Yet with the introduction of a new family member, parents have some major readjustments to deal with: Babies lead to a loss of independence, changes in financial status and/or security, and sometimes upheaval in relationships (among many other things). Although parents may feel prepared for these changes, having a baby can still be a very difficult adjustment. More often than not, when time and independence go out the window, so does eating right. But while eating healthy, nourishing foods may be the last thing on our minds when there’s a new baby to care for, it’s a crucial component to healing after delivery and reducing the risk of postpartum depression. Read on to learn how baby blues, postpartum depression, and nutrition all connect.

Baby Blues

Approximately one in two mothers experience what’s sometimes called “baby blues” after the birth of a child. The blues typically happen between three and five days after delivery and coincide with the hormonal changes that occur as the breast milk starts to develop. Mothers may feel weepy and irritable, and lack confidence in their ability to care for a baby. This is a normal occurrence that typically subsides after a week or so. It is perfectly okay to have a good cry and talk to someone about how you feel. New mothers need lots of tender loving care and reassurance that their feelings are normal.