Has Life As A New Mom Upended All Your Expectations?
Is the experience of motherhood not what you thought it would be? Has the thrill of being a new parent been replaced by the fear that you’re not good enough at it? Do you feel out of sync with your husband or partner and unable to bond with your baby?
Being a new mom is hard. Despite all the flowers and congratulations, life with your newborn can be uncomfortable. Perhaps feeding your baby is a colossal challenge and finding the right time for naps seems impossible. You may experience cabin fever—being stuck at home with your spouse and family could be grating on your nerves. As much as you want to get away from everything, your new life with your baby makes you feel tied down.
Maybe You’re Not Used To Asking For Help, But Parenting Leaves You With No Choice
If you’re used to being self-reliant, there are few things tougher than having a newborn. Perhaps asking for help isn’t in your emotional portfolio—you’ve been busy furthering your career and helping everyone else in your life. It’s not in your nature to depend on parents, in-laws, and a broader support system, but now you have no choice. For the first time, you may feel like you can’t be superwoman.
The truth is that no one can manage the stressors of motherhood alone. It’s okay to lean on others for support. In postpartum therapy, my goal is to walk with you through this difficult new chapter of life and help you feel more comfortable and relaxed with your baby. Your bond with your little one is vital to their development and can have lifelong benefits on their life.
It’s Normal To Experience Postpartum Depression And Anxiety
Postpartum symptoms are some of the most common complications of pregnancy. Roughly one in seven mothers and one in ten fathers suffers from postpartum depression. In the wake of childbirth, it’s normal to experience irritability, anxiety, mood-swings, loss of appetite and lack of sleep. Bringing a child into the world may be exciting, but it’s a stressful, draining process that can affect every area of your life.
Parenthood Can Feel Like A Huge Departure For Career-Oriented People
In my area of Virginia, many young people’s communities are built around their identity as professionals. They often invest a lot of energy into their careers and don’t have much extended family around. As a result, being a mom or dad can be a huge departure for them. Without a large support network, parenthood can be very isolating.
What’s more, career-oriented people tend to be independent and used to doing everything themselves. While that’s a great quality to have in the workforce, it makes parenting feel unnatural. Suddenly needing more help can feel like a shock to the system.
Nonetheless, I believe that there is a strength in vulnerability. It takes courage to admit that you need support. Postpartum counseling is a chance to work through the vulnerabilities of motherhood and learn to manage anxiety, depression, and any other challenges you face.
Postpartum Therapy Can Help You Bond With Your Baby And Feel Like Yourself Again
So much adrenaline accompanies the experience of having a baby. But once that adrenaline wears off, life with a newborn can feel like drudgery. There are the sleepless nights, the breastfeeding troubles, and all the wear-and-tear that your body goes through. As a postpartum counselor, I want to help you gain your footing as a mom, form a closer bond with your baby, and feel more like yourself again. Doing so can aid in your little one’s development and help them grow closer to you as the years go on.
Most importantly, I want you to give yourself grace. You are doing the best you can and there is no shame in not being able to do everything yourself. And if you find yourself mourning your old life without a child, I want you to know that it’s okay. The fact that you miss your independence doesn’t mean you’re a bad parent. It’s normal to have trouble adjusting. Therapy can deepen your sense of self-compassion and help you adjust to motherhood with the knowledge that you don’t have to do everything perfectly.
What To Expect In Postpartum Therapy Sessions
In the beginning, I’ll assess what level of care you need and figure out practical ways to make parenting easier. I can help you learn to find adequate childcare, prepare for going back to work, and connect with any specialists you need. From there we can get into some deeper work, exploring past trauma and healing the emotional wounds that hold you back as a parent.
The good news about postpartum therapy is that it’s often a fairly short-term commitment. Although there’s no exact timetable for when postpartum issues resolve, most of my clients do not need long-term treatment. In fact, many of them say they feel relieved after we get one session out of the way and form a plan for managing their symptoms.
Tailoring Your Treatment Plan
I’ve trained with both Postpartum Support International (PSI) and Postpartum Support Virginia (PSVa), for whom I am a preferred provider. I incorporate PSVa’s Path to Wellness plan into my practice. The Path to Wellness is a holistic approach to postpartum therapy that looks at how motherhood impacts every area of your life, from your sleep patterns to your eating habits to your relationships and social support network.
I also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can give you useful problem-solving skills and help you overcome beliefs that negatively affect your parenting. For instance, maybe you’ve always believed that you should be self-reliant and do everything yourself. CBT can help you figure out where this belief came from and how to adjust it so that it doesn’t make you feel down about yourself.
I’ve helped numerous women weather the challenges of life after pregnancy. In addition to my training with PSI and PSV, I’ve worked as a support group co-leader in four different hospitals. I am also a mother myself, so I know firsthand the challenges that mothers face. I’m confident that I can help you adjust to your new life and deepen your connection with your little one.
You May Have Some Concerns About Postpartum Therapy…
I have postpartum depression, but it’s not that serious.
Depression is confusing—it can come and go mysteriously and it’s really tempting to pretend that everything is fine when you’re in a good mood. Even if you think your depression is not that serious, there’s no harm in checking in. By being proactive and addressing your symptoms sooner rather than later, you can head off problems before they become issues.
What if the baby cries during sessions?
I love seeing the mom and baby together in sessions! It’s absolutely fine if your newborn is with you. Hearing them is not a distraction for me. What’s more, both of you being together makes it easier for me to understand your unique relationship and figure out what you need help with.
Is therapy an expensive and long-term commitment?
Therapy for postpartum depression or anxiety is rarely long-term. I cannot guarantee anything, but I can tell you my approach, which is all about helping you bond with your baby and feel more like yourself again. It usually doesn’t take long to accomplish either of those things. That said, there is no shame in seeking long-term care. Postpartum issues can vary in duration and it’s perfectly normal to need some extra time to work through them.
Life With Your Little One Doesn’t Have To Be Stressful Anymore
After having a baby, part of you may feel over the moon and another part may feel overwhelmed. As a postpartum therapist, I can help you manage the emotional rollercoaster of life with a newborn. To connect with me, schedule a free consultation here.
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