KEEPING MOTHERHOOD REAL

Life is busier and we are more ‘connected’ than ever. Who would think that a mum or dad could feel so lonely, anxious or depressed after giving birth to their bundle of joy?

The truth is parenting is hard, and feelings of Perinatal Anxiety and Depression such as sadness, guilt, hopelessness and difficulty bonding with your baby are incredibly common. 1 in 7 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers are diagnosed with Postnatal Depression, so you should not feel alone with statistics like this.

Becoming a parent is a big deal and whether it was a long, difficult road or a big surprise, it’s a life-changing journey for all parents and one of the toughest jobs you will ever take on.

When preparing for parenthood it’s usually the physical stuff we focus on; is my baby measuring in the healthy range? Which is the right pram for us? Is our car seat fitted correctly? However, it’s important to spend time preparing yourself mentally for the big changes that are occurring. Knowledge is power and through increasing your awareness you can develop skills to help reduce the overwhelming feelings of anxiety and depression postpartum.

At Women In Focus we have fallen in love with an awesome app called ‘What Were We Thinking!’ It is not just for expecting and new parents, but also for those supporting a new parent and/or healthcare professionals.

Navigating your way through the app you will find an endless amount of tailored information from the birth up to six months postpartum, workshops, quizzes, journal writing, practical activities and videos from health professionals. Importantly it also gives you quick access to support helplines in your region of Australia.

For further information visit:
whatwerewethinking.org.au

Another initiative we love is ‘Ready to COPE’. It is a free and simple way to help you look after your emotional and mental health. It helps prepare women for the emotional journey of pregnancy and new motherhood with supportive emails and information.

At WIF we are dedicated to helping women with the physical challenges that come with becoming a mother. But almost every one of our clients faces emotional challenges during this time as well. It’s important to remember that being healthy, especially during pregnancy and early motherhood, requires you to look after both your physical AND your mental wellbeing.

For further information visit:
readytocope.org.au

If you or someone you know are showing signs of postnatal depression, please see your GP or a psychologist for professional help, there is support waiting for you.

You can learn more at:
panda.org.au – 1300 726 306
beyondblue.org.au – 1300 22 4636

We wish you the all the best on your journey to becoming a confident parent.

Karen Crudden of WIF Physiotherapy
Women’s Health Physiotherapist