New Mama Crying When You Should Be Happy
MAMA GUILT
In the first week as a new mama there were times when I cried out of exhaustion, frustration or not knowing what to do. I always felt guilty about crying. This was a happy, joyous time, full of laughter and baby cuddles. So why was I crying? Where were these tears coming from?
The first week postpartum was one of the hardest. Evie and Poppy arrived 5 weeks early and had to be in the NICU at our local hospital. My milk didn’t come in right away. Some of our family members were not very considerate. My body felt destroyed. I was not prepared for any of it. Oh and I didn’t read the postpartum chapter of my baby book! (Mama if you’re preparing for postpartum, read the chapter about what happens AFTER the baby is born!)
The guilt that comes along with being a mama was intense. You want to do what’s right for your baby and sometimes you might not know the answer or how to communicate what you need or what to do in the moment. It’s a steep learning curve, that’s for sure, but let go of the guilt mama.
New Mama, Your Feelings are NORMAL
Take solice in knowing THIS IS ALL NORMAL. You’re allowed to cry even though it’s a happy time. You didn’t simply birth a baby, you became a mama in the same moment which is a big shift both physically, mentally and emotionally. Also in the first week postpartum there are huge hormonal changes. These are called the Baby Blues. Remember the shift in emotions you would have prior to your period? Times this by a thousand. The hormonal changes that occur during and after birth could have you feeling a wide range of emotions in the few weeks following birth. Mama, it’s ok to have emotions other than joy and happiness. It’s ok to give yourself permission to process your birth, take a moment to realize the journey you are about to embark on as a mama and that learning a new job on the go is not always easy. These big emotional shifts won’t last forever, the Baby Blues typically start a few days after birth and last for a few weeks afterwards. Give yourself space to adjust to this new normal.
