• Persistent Sadness or Emptiness: Feeling overwhelmed by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or a lack of joy, even when caring for your baby.
• Anxiety and Panic Attacks: Experiencing excessive worry, fear, or panic that interferes with your ability to care for yourself and your baby.
• Difficulty Bonding with Your Baby: Feeling disconnected or indifferent towards your newborn, rather than the strong, loving bond you expected.
• Thoughts of Harming Yourself or Your Baby: Having intrusive thoughts or urges to harm yourself or your baby, which can be a sign of a more serious postpartum mood disorder.

Guidance: 

• Acknowledge and validate your feelings – it’s okay to feel this way, and you’re not alone.
• Reach out to your healthcare provider, a therapist, or a trusted loved one to discuss your emotions.
• Engage in self-care activities that bring you comfort, such as taking a warm bath, going for a gentle walk, or practicing relaxation techniques.
• Consider joining a support group for new mothers to connect with others who understand what you’re going through.

• Experiencing persistent and overwhelming feelings of worry, fear, or panic that interfere with your ability to care for yourself and your baby
• Feeling on edge, restless, or unable to relax
• Experiencing physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, or muscle tensio

Guidance:

• Acknowledge the anxiety and try to practice deep breathing, mindfulness, or other calming techniques when you feel the panic rising.
• Reach out to your healthcare provider or a mental health professional to discuss medication or therapy options that can help manage the anxiety.
• Enlist the support of your partner, family, or friends to help with daily tasks and provide a sense of reassurance.
• Consider trying relaxation practices like yoga, meditation, or gentle exercise to help soothe your mind and body.

• Experiencing intrusive thoughts or urges to harm yourself or your baby, which can be a sign of a more serious postpartum mood disorder
• Feeling disconnected or indifferent towards your newborn, rather than the strong, loving bond you expected

Guidance:

• Immediately reach out to your healthcare provider or call an emergency hotline if you are having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby.
• Discuss these intrusive thoughts with a mental health professional, who can provide appropriate treatment and support.
• Engage in skin-to-skin contact, gentle rocking, or other soothing activities to help foster a stronger bond with your baby.
• Consider joining a new mothers’ support group or seeking individual counseling to work through any difficulties in bonding.

• Feeling constantly exhausted, even after resting or sleeping
• Struggling to find the energy or motivation to complete daily tasks or care for your baby
• Experiencing a lack of interest or enjoyment in activities you once found fulfillin

Guidance:

• Acknowledge the fatigue and be gentle with yourself – caring for a newborn is physically and emotionally demanding.
• Prioritise self-care by trying to get as much rest as possible, even if it means asking for help from your partner, family, or friends.
• Engage in light physical activity, such as gentle walks or stretching, to help boost your energy levels.
• Discuss the fatigue with your healthcare provider, as they may be able to provide recommendations or treatment options to help manage it.
• Consider joining a new mothers’ support group to connect with others who understand the challenges of postpartum fatigue.