The Seventh Mom Project, Inc.
  • Home
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • SISTER Mom
    • Local Resource Guide
  • Educate
    • Community Awareness Events
    • For Professionals
  • Connect
  • Blog

Steps to Wellness: Part 1.

3/20/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
When moms contact me, questioning their emotional roller coasters during pregnancy or during their postpartum year, I always start back at the basics. The Steps to Wellness were developed by Jane Honikman, founder of PEP and later Postpartum International.  More than thirty years later, they are just as relevant to all people, especially new parents.

Today I am going to review the first 3 steps.  They are so blatantly simple, but so often overlooked by new parents as the demands of a new little one take their toll. 
Picture
The first thing I want all new parents to know, is that you are not alone in feeling this way.  Whether you are feeling sad, hopeless, worried, or angry, you are not the first parent and you won't be the last.   It is important to know you are not alone and that it is not forever. 
​
Around 80 percent of new mothers experience the "Baby Blues" during the first two weeks of their new little ones' life. Between 20 and 50 percent will experience a more serious condition, such as depression or anxiety.

These conditions are common, but not normal and can be treated. 

Once you understand a little more about postpartum mental health conditions, it is important to know that simply being able to make time for our own health can make a world of difference. This is obviously easier said than done!
The first thing I advise new parents to do to help manage their symptoms is get some sleep.
Ideally a parent can get 6 uninterrupted hours of sleep in a 24 hour period.
If someone is experiencing many symptoms of depression or anxiety, it is really important part of their wellness plan to work these hours in.  This can take some creative thinking and support from others to make happen. 
Picture
Picture
Again, a simple step that is easily lost in the chaos of new parenthood.  Eating and eating to nourish your body. 
If you are feeling miserable, irritable, or cranky, think back to what you have (or in many cases haven't) eaten. 
Take the time to eat well.  It can be very difficult to see where meal prep will fit into your life, but once you are eating well, your body will have the fuel it needs to continue to parent. 
Aim for 6 small meals, covering all the food groups throughout the day. Easy to eat snacks are a hit because often you are eating over a baby's head. 
Work with your support team to make sure you are not skipping out on eating. 
If you are a new parent, and you haven't been taking the time to rest or eat, please do!  It will serve you and your family well to be fed and rested. 

Next week I will review steps 4-6. 


-Elizabeth 
0 Comments

    Each walk is different, but we walk together, and that makes all the
    difference.

    Stories are shared by moms willingly to help others know
    YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

    Archives

    January 2020
    June 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015

    Categories

    All
    Anxiety
    Awareness
    Birth And Baby Event
    Black Dispartiy
    Board Opening
    Body Image
    Body Love
    Breastfeeding
    Call To Action
    Cesarean Awareness
    Children
    Christian Mothers
    Complementary Treatments
    Dads
    Depression
    Doula
    Eat
    Exercise
    Expectations
    Faith
    Fathers
    Father's Day
    Fears
    Fed Is Best
    Flamingo Flocking
    Fog
    Fun
    Fundraiser
    Gender
    Girls Rock
    Give Day
    Guilt
    Heros
    Hold The Umbrella
    Hurricane
    Identity
    Identity Crisis
    Infant Mortality
    International Father's Mental Health Day
    Jesus
    Legislative Jargon
    Long Term Risks
    Maternal Mental Health
    Medicine
    Mental Health
    Mentorship
    Mom Hacks
    Moms Rock
    Motherhood
    Motherhood Fantasy
    National Breastfeeding Month
    Natural Antidepressants
    Natural Birth
    Natural Remedies
    New Baby
    Perinatal Anxiety
    Placentas
    Planning
    Pole
    Pole Dancing
    Post Baby Body
    Postpartum Depression
    Postpartum Distress
    Practical Help
    Preparedness
    Preparing For Baby
    Public Event
    Raincoat Run
    SB 138
    Self
    Showers Of Support
    Sisterhood
    Sistermom
    Sleep
    Stand By You
    Standing With Women
    Stigma
    Storms Of Motherhood
    Suicide
    Summer
    Summer Fun
    Support
    Survival
    Survivor
    Therapist
    Travel
    Umbrella Holders
    Volunteer
    Weathering Storms
    Weight
    Wellness
    Woman Acheivement
    Women's Health
    World Breastfeeding Week
    World Doula Week

    RSS Feed

You can reach us at:

mailing address: 9015 Aspen Hollow Place, Riverview, FL 33578
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. You can contact  1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) to obtain these records. 
  • Home
    • Calendar
  • Support
    • SISTER Mom
    • Local Resource Guide
  • Educate
    • Community Awareness Events
    • For Professionals
  • Connect
  • Blog