Parental Depression: Moms Need Help Too

No matter how many children you have or how old they are, just being a mom is tough. Whether you are a single mom or even if you have the most supportive and wonderful husband or partner. Anyone can be affected by depression, but moms are affected more often than others. In fact, women are twice as likely to have depression than men. As a mother, we tend to ignore our feelings and our health because we have to worry about everyone else but the problem with that is, if something happens to us, those people who need our care will not have us to care for them anymore. So, it is essential that you talk to someone if you think you may have depression. 

How Do You Know if You Have Depression?

Let’s face it: we, as mothers, do not like to consider that there may be something wrong with us. We are “Super Moms” and nothing can stop us from our jobs of getting up at the crack of dawn to make breakfast, wake and feed everyone, make lunches, drive the kids to school, keep the baby happy while you do the grocery shopping, do the laundry, make dinner, pick up the kids from school, drive the kids to their soccer games and dance recitals, etc. Yes, it is a never-ending list of chores that you need to do every single day. And when you think you can relax on the weekends, you have to take the kids to their friend’s house, help with homework, do more laundry, make more breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and do more shopping with the baby. That does not even include the work we do to make a living in between all of our chores. Wow, it is no wonder why women get depressed more than men! 

Symptoms of Depression

Although you may just be feeling overwhelmed (for good reason), what you are experiencing may be depression. Some of the most common symptoms of depression include:

• Lack of energy

• Feeling sad for longer than two weeks for no obvious reason

• Sleeping changes (sleeping more or less than usual)

• Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities

• Eating more than usual or lack of appetite

• Low self-esteem

• Chronic fatigue

• Avoiding friends and family

• Difficulty making decisions or concentrating

• Memory loss

• Feeling hopeless or empty

• More irritable than usual

• Thoughts of suicide

Talk to Someone

When you start feeling like you just do not care about anything and cannot drag yourself out of bed, it is past time to talk to someone. You need to get treatment because it really does help. It may be that you have a chemical imbalance or that your hormones are out of whack. Or it may be that you just need to talk to someone and work things out in your mind on how to deal with the feelings going on inside you. Whatever you need, believe it or not, you can feel better. Many people with depression think that the feelings will pass on its own or that nothing can help you. But, studies show that over 80% of those people with depression who get treatment felt better within one month. Don’t you want to feel better? It is time to talk to someone. At BetterHelp.com, they have over 2,000 licensed therapists, counselors, and psychologists available without an appointment. And you do not even have to leave your home so you can do it from bed or that favorite spot on the couch. So, what are you waiting for?


About the Author
Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.

16 months strong

DISCLAIMER: In no way am I saying breastfeeding is better for everyone, fed is best! 

Let’s talk breastfeeding, when I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to breastfeed, heck prior to even getting pregnant I knew I wanted to do this. So when the time was right I got my prescription and got everything in place for a breast pump. I got the spectra s2 pump and the kindii twist system. I thought I was ready to go, that my body was going to do what it needed to do to continue supporting my babies. Isn’t that funny after knowing my body has a mind of its own with the whole fertility thing I had this silly thought that my body figured it all out. 

True to nature we had a rocky start to say the least. The twins were born early and ended up in the nicu. I was on all kinds of medicine due to my condition. So I didn’t get to start pumping or getting them to latch until the next day. Mind you when babies are born early your body needs time to realize it’s time to start making the “milkies” (nobody tells you this part until after the fact). You first have what’s call colostrum (liquid gold), this is actually the most potent milk and is really amazing for babies first few days. I assumed that my body would automatically make enough for not only one baby but two (there I go assuming again). Boy was I wrong, thank god they were on donor milk for the first few days so I could build up a tiny stash for them, or so I thought. 

We latched them every feeding before giving them what I managed to pump for them in hopes of them stimulating my supply to kick in and make more. There came the time that I had dreaded. I wasn’t keeping up to their needs and they had to be supplemented with formula, this was devastating and my first thought at giving up. My next came when neither of them liked my left side, to this day my left is my slacker. With supplementing them with formula there was two scenarios, either my supply would come in and we could take them off of it completely or the would have to be supplemented the whole time. I found an amazing product, Milky Mama Treats, and within a month of using them not only did my supply come in 10 fold but I was able to completely take them off of supplemental formula. 

While breastfeeding is not for everyone, and that is completely ok, for me it was something I felt so strongly and determined to do. I am grateful that we are now 16 months strong. I was determined to donate milk since the twins where given donor milk while in the NICU. I am so pleased to say that I was able to donate over 200oz to two different families in need.  This is something I am extremely proud and humbled by. Someone was selfless and donated to help my babies so it made me feel so amazing to be able to give back and help others. Not only that in the milk bath photoshoot we did to document this amazing journey, I was able to have my milk mixed in the bath. I am now on the hunt for the perfect breastmilk jewelry (if you have had pieces made please let me know your recommendations), I am excited to be able to have something made from my milk that will last a lifetime.  This whole experience is something that I am extremely grateful for as well as proud of.  I was able to nourish my children for 8 months in the womb and now another 16 while being earth side. The bond that I have made with these two will be my most precious gift. 

Photography credit: Jenny Murphy Photography 
Flower Crowns: Made By Mae