New mom anxiety

nikmatulia · February 2015

Hey everyone, this is my first post on this forum. I gave birth to a beautiful healthy baby girl on Feb 2. The delivery was difficult and I have some healing to do.
Now my husband and I are home and trying to get settled. He goes back to work at the beginning of next week and we are still trying to get into some sort of routine.
I'm having trouble with anxiety and lack of appetite. I have times where I wonder what in the heck I've gotten myself into and if I'm cut out to be a mother. I take care of my baby and love her, but I find times where I'm indifferent and just feel jittery and nervous. The loss of appetite has thrown me off too. I'm just trying to reach out for advice/experience/words of comfort. My husband is great and helps so much so I don't feel like it's all on me, so I feel selfish thinking this way. Help!

anxiousmommy85 · February 2015

Your hormones are still in flux, your sleep schedule and quality has changed and it's a huge adjustment. Not to mention having part of your heart and soul incarnated into a tiny, delicate package outside of your body. Some degrees of the baby blues/anxiety are normal. However, make sure you're checking in with your hubby on your emotional state so that you have someone watching you for those things becoming postpartum depression and/or anxiety. Don't be afraid to ask for help/company for a bit after he goes back to work. You're recovering from a very hard thing.

BeachbrideAK · February 2015

Everyone always want to talk about the labor but not many people talk about the first few weeks after having your first child. Oh and who ever said the first year of marriage was the hardest obviously never had kids yet!

with my first I also found myself with lost of questions/feelings/thoughts that I felt I wasn't quite sure I should be feeling. You think it's supposed to be the happiest time of your life but it's also the hardest and trying to mentally take it all in when your hormones are raging and your sleep Deprived can be very stressful.
Try not to make since of everything now and just let the days pass while you enjoy your baby and heal. Schedules will come into place, adjustments will make since and you won't remember what the days were like before your family.
You are a brave strong Mommy!!

srseaton · February 2015

I'm a FTM and my little guy is due to arrive within 2 weeks. As far as appetite loss, try and force yourself to eat...especially if you're breastfeeding. I think if you can eat something periodically it might help you feel better. Think of foods you really enjoy and see if your husband can make them or bring them home for you. In regards to the anxiety-I've read that's completely normal! You're only a few days into this so your hormones and body are trying to figure out how to adjust without the little one inside you anymore. Just keep talking to your husband and try to find another friend to confide in.

maryxc1 · February 2015

I felt the same way with my first. Well, I was starving all the time but felt the same as far as emotions. I was scared to death the first time DH left me home alone with the baby for an hour. There were many times in the first month or so that I wondered why we had done this to ourselves and wished we could go back to the way things were before. Now, 2 1/2 years later, it was completely worth it and we even decided to do it again. For me, the first six weeks were the hardest and it slowly got better from there. Parenting is still really hard, but I only have sobbing breakdowns every few months these days instead of every day or two. :-)

t8keepr03 · February 2015

I felt the same way and cried the morning my husband had to go back to work. Fortunately my parents are retired and came to town right when DD was born. My mom came over within an hour of DH going to work. It helped so much, while I was healing and getting my hormones back in line,to know I was going to have someone come by everyday. Once I got a routine down I loved being on maternity leave alone and getting all the baby snuggles to myself at night. Do you have someone that you enjoy their company that can come hang out with you for a bit while DH is at work? Also, I still craved foods and had food aversions after giving birth. I would have DH pick up some of my favorite comfort foods after work and those always help!

kcwnc · February 2015

Reach out to friends and family for support and let your doctor know about your feelings asap, don't wait for your standard 6 week check up. Especially with how your delivery went there could be more than just physical healing that you need.

tropicbreeze · February 2015

I felt the same way until around 2 days after my milk came it. I figured it was my hormones adjusting. It does take one by surprise when you aren't expecting it to be so intense.
Hang in there momma! Talk to your SO, family members or friends about how you feel.

JessicaH1020 · February 2015

This could be signs of post partum depression. Don't mess around here on The Bump, call your doctor ASAP. And until you can get in to see your doctor, get help from friends and family.

regan342 · February 2015

Last night I broke down weeping because our DS only wants to sleep when he's being held. I was convinc d I was a failure as a mom. Every time he's fussy about getting a latch, I am certain that my body has failed and is producing some kind of nasty soap-tasting milk.
Try to give yourself a break, is what I'm saying. This is HARD, and it's easy to believe everyone else is a natural and you suck, but it's not at all true. Hormones are a bitch.
And if gets worse or you feel like you're despairing, talk to your doctor. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You're a hardworking mommy.

Meagano19 · February 2015

I agree with what everyone has said so far. If your feelings are scaring you, it doesn't hurt to call and mention them to your doctor.

My little man was born almost 3 weeks ago via c section. Everything went fine with delivery and we were released 3 days later. My mom stayed with me the first week which turned out to be a Godsend because 5 days after delivery I started vomiting everything I managed to eat. I had loss of appetite and everytime I tried to nurse or pump I got nauseous plus I felt like I could barely get out of bed. I was also struggling with hormones and emotions and I just knew this whole thing was a mistake and I didn't have what it took to be a mother which only made the emotions worse. I felt guilty because my mom was doing so much for the baby, breastfeeding made me physically sick, and I was missing being pregnant so bad. When LO was 1 week old I finally let my mom take me to the ER for the vomiting and I ended up being very anemic and needed a blood transfusion. After my night in the hospital, I felt like a whole new woman! It could have been the combination of my health getting back to normal and the passage of time, but it did get easier! Now we are in week 3 and I still miss being pregnant really bad and have days where I cry at everything but we are learning each other and it gets easier every day.

Hang in there momma and ask for help from the people that are there to support you! It's ok if you need help physically and/or emotionally. You are a great momma and your baby loves you!

nikmatulia · February 2015

Thank you so much for all of your replies, they are so helpful. There is just a constant knot in my stomach and it drives me nuts! I have supportive friends and family who are there for me and I'm so grateful, I just didn't know if this was a somewhat normal feeling to have. I'm definitely going to talk to the dr about all of my feelings and stay on top of these emotions. This forum has definitely helped a lot and I am so appreciative of all the advice and kind words. I just hate anxiety! I have had issues with it in the past and thought I wouldn't have to deal with it again!

Want a personalized experience?

New mom anxiety

Re: New mom anxiety

Choose Another Board

Search Boards