Listen
and support her feelings. Encourage her to talk about her
feelings. Don't tell her to "Snap out of it,"
or "You should be happy to have a beautiful, healthy
baby." This will only make her feel worse.
Encourage
her to seek professional help. Assist her in finding a compassionate
health care professional. Offer to go with her to appointments
for added support.
Be
involved with her treatment. Many women with postpartum
mood disorders don't feel like attending their counseling
session or follow-up appointment. You can help and encourage
her to get there. Women recover faster if their partners
are involved and supportive.
Develop
your relationship with the baby. This can provide the mother
with a much-needed break.
Ask
her how you can help. Providing meals, doing household chores,
looking after other children or listening to her will be
helpful.
Educate
yourself about postpartum mood disorders. Be patient. It
takes time to recover.
Don't
take mom's PPMD personally (it is not her fault or yours).
Avoid misunderstanding and frustration by communicating
with your partner.
