More than 13% of all new mothers are likely to experience postpartum depression after the birth of a child according to the United States Department of Human Services. When you think that more than 1 out of 10 new mothers can be affected by this condition, the statistics are staggering.
It’s not surprising that a lot of mother go through what is also sometimes called the Baby Blues after having a new baby. Having someone constantly screaming, needing fed, waking you up, and the demands of taking care of the house or other children can be downright overwhelming.
Researchers have found that two of the best things for most moms to prevent postpartum depression are being active and socializing in addition to nursing and having support from family and friends. A great way to do this is to join a stroller fitness walking program for you and your new baby. Taking a walk with your newborn baby and a friend is a great way to not only enjoy motherhood but also give you a calming and relaxing activity where you can take a break while doing something good for yourself. Having other moms to relate to and realize you don’t have to be perfect can relieve a lot of the demands.
You should always talk to a doctor before you begin any fitness program, and you’ll especially want to make sure your doctor approves any activities you do shortly after child birth. Many physicians recommend that a new mother not drive or do anything strenuous – even vacuum – for at least 2 weeks after a baby is born. You also may want to consider being screened for postpartum depression by your doctor or hospital. Most hospitals now have many programs to help not only prevent it from occurring but to make sure that you can seek treatment as soon as possible.
To learn more about the research done to show how walking with a stroller and your newborn can help with preventing and treating postpartum depression, you can view the results of a study conducted in Australia here.
