I have a friend who recently had a baby and is feeling really down. I think she is going thru some depression issues She crys a lot and is very negative of how she looks. She thinks she is too fat but no else thinks so.. she just had a baby so its normal to have baby fat. She is home all day with a new born and also has a 7 year old. I want to help her feel good and have some time for herself. Anyone have any suggestions?
2007-03-19 09:48:18 · 9 answers · asked by PTG621 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Every new mom needs time to herself, and a reason to put on some makeup and wear something other than sweats.... offer to babysit so she can get out for a bit. I find that just an hour or so every week is all I really need to recharge my batteries. I was very depressed until I established a routine of going out for coffee or window shopping with a friend every Friday night. My husband can handle the kids for an hour or so, but even so sometimes I wait until the kids are sleeping.
2007-03-19 09:53:52 · answer #1 · answered by Kynthia 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She needs to talk to a doctor first to get some help with this. Then you can help by giving her time away from the kids. A couple hours here or there. Or how about the 2 of you taking the kids for a long walk. She's exercising and the kids are getting some fresh air. Just be patient with her. Mom to 3 and had postpartum depression with the last one.
2007-03-19 11:14:42 · answer #2 · answered by Melanie A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
From personal experience: Sit down with her and ask her what she's unhappy with. Help her come up with a plan of action to change these things. If she's unhappy with her figure (I was and I cried) offer to watch her kids while she goes to the gym. It only takes 6 weeks to become fit enough to start exercising again. If she can't get enough sleep, help her find a better solution to that issue. Solutions will help most- trust me!!!!!
For me, solving my problems helped more than an afternoon watching Sex and the City on dvd while eating ice cream.
When my daughter was a baby I hated my weight (I went from 105 pounds to 170 pounds) I was sleep deprived, I was too tired to do house work, everything about my days seemed to suck! Once I started coming up with solutions to my problems, I felt like a new woman!
Taking action and finding solutions is the difference between moms who look good and are happy and moms who live in sweats and are tired of their day to day tasks.
Postpartum depression is normal, but not taking action to change what is bothering you doesn't do you any good.
Encourage and help her find ways to make her days better!
2007-03-19 10:11:32 · answer #3 · answered by Erin H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had my baby daughter a year ago and suffered severe baby blues which i never suffered with my boys, now aged 9 and 7. I went to see my doctor and all he could do was prescribe me anti-depressants. i didn't take them and it took me a year to get through it. the only thing that helped was cuddles. I was down about my weight and even when people said but you've just had a baby, it never helped. The best thing you could do for her is just be there to hug her when she's down and reassure her that you're there for her and offer to help her so she can get some rest and maybe encourage her to go shopping for clothes that really make her feel confident. hope this helps.
2007-03-19 10:10:52 · answer #4 · answered by jellybaby1977 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
postpartum depression is common and there's help out there. She needs to see her doctor and explain this to him/her. I've suffered from postpartum depression with both children and it's not fun...I cried a lot, and with this last child I became erratic and started hitting her father, etc....I never had feelings of hurting the kids, but some people do, so it's important to get some help....anti-depressants are usually what they give you for it, and there are support groups out there if she lives in a big enough city. I she a single mother??? because I've noticed I was more depressed with my first child when I was a single mother.
2007-03-19 09:58:59 · answer #5 · answered by itsuptome92171 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to help her out with the baby and kid so she can get a nap....having a baby leaves you majorly sleep deprived! Se should let her Doctor know that shes having some depression though. Anything like that should be monitored by a medical professional.
2007-03-19 11:03:38 · answer #6 · answered by GAjen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get her out of the house, either with you, or volunteer to babysit so she can get out.
Open her drapes. Sunlight does alot for baby blues.
Watch funny movies with her.
Be as supportive as you can. Remind her it took her 9 months to gain the weight, it will come back off, slow is the healthiest way!
You sound like a great friend! Keep up the good work.
2007-03-19 09:55:51 · answer #7 · answered by Renee B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Help with the baby and her 7 year old.
Try taking her out for walks or a movie.
Sometimes the most simple everyday things can help with the baby blues.
2007-03-19 09:53:07 · answer #8 · answered by ~beauty~ 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
what your friend has is called post-partum depression. alot lot of women go through it one way or another. she needs a little time to get away from baby for a few hours and take some time for herself. offer to babysit for free one day so she can get out of the house and have a little time to herself.
2007-03-23 08:41:33 · answer #9 · answered by moore_256 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋