By: Brittany Sewall
Having a baby is an exciting moment! There are a lot of changes you go through as a woman; physically, mentally, and emotionally. It is a rollercoaster ride of emotions those first few days after welcoming your little one into this world. You experience highs and lows, and you may be flooded with joy, love, fear, and anxiety. This is all very common for most women to experience in those first few days after birth, lasting up to the first two weeks. This is referred to as the baby blues, which you might have heard of before. The baby blues affect 50-75% of women, and typically start within a couple of days after giving birth and can last up to two weeks. Baby blues symptoms can include:
- Anxiety
- Sadness
- Mood swings
- Feeling irritable or overwhelmed
- Crying for no reason
- Irregular appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
If these symptoms do not resolve after two weeks, seem to be worsening or feel more intense, it could be postpartum depression (PPD).
PPD is a serious mental condition that affects your physical health and behavior. The symptoms of PPD usually develop within the first few weeks after childbirth but can happen up to one year after your baby is born. It is easy to mistake PPD for the baby blues at first because the symptoms are very similar. However, with PPD, the symptoms may start to affect your ability to care for your baby or interfere with tasks of daily living. Symptoms of PPD can include:
- Feeling shameful
- Feeling guilty or worthless
- Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or crying
- Anger or mood swings
- Sleeping more or less than normal
- Inability to care for yourself or your baby
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling hostile towards your baby
- Difficulty bonding with your baby
- Intense anxiety
- Withdrawing from family and friends
- Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 women. If a woman has a history of PPD with previous pregnancies, she has a 30% higher chance of having it again. You also might be at a higher risk if you have bipolar disorder, your baby has health issues, you have twins or triplets, if the pregnancy was unwanted, if you’re having relationship problems, have a weak support system, or financial problems.
If you, or someone you know, might be experiencing PPD, please reach out. Talk to your partner, talk to your nurse, talk to your doctor or midwife. Please do not suffer in silence. Some women try to hide these feelings. They might feel like they are a bad mother, feel ashamed or guilty. Some women feel like they are the only ones feeling this way or that it’s not normal, which then can make them feel embarrassed. There are multiple options for mothers suffering with PPD that can help.
Therapy is a very common treatment option for PPD. Counseling can help you dive into your emotions, try to understand, and work through them. Support groups can also be a helpful avenue as it allows you the opportunity to talk with other women who are experiencing the same thing and can help you feel less alone. Dealing with PPD can make people feel very secluded, so knowing other people that are going through similar struggles can be very comforting. Another treatment some women explore is medications. Most commonly doctors will prescribe an antidepressant which can help manage your symptoms. There are also antidepressants that are safe to take while breastfeeding, so if you’re nursing you don’t have to stop in order to take these. You and your doctor can work together to find the right medication and right dosage. It does typically take several weeks for these medications to start working, so try not to stress if you don’t feel any different immediately after starting one.
Postpartum depression is no joke. It is a serious condition that can often be overlooked as “normal” for mothers to experience. Please speak up if you are experiencing any of these symptoms that describe PPD. Work with your health care team to find the right treatment plan for you so you can start healing mentally. Ignoring these symptoms can eventually affect your baby. To give the best care to your baby, you must take care of yourself too.
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2022, November 24). Postpartum depression. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20376617
Postpartum depression: Causes, symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2024, July 17). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9312-postpartum-depression#management-and-treatment
Postpartum depression: Office on Women’s Health. OASH | Office on Women’s Health. (2023, October 17). https://womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/postpartum-depression
By: Cindy Guillory
A child’s brain develops rapidly during the first few years of life. As parents it is crucial that we consider the best ways to support healthy brain development for our children. The first years of life set important groundwork for the rest of their adult lives. Do you want to know how to best support your little ones brain development? Here are 10 tips:
- 1. Make sure your child gets adequate sleep.
- Sleep is the most crucial way for a child to be able to rest, retain and process the information that they learned that day. Studies have shown that lack of sleep in children is associated with poorer academic performance and academic function. Children need adequate quality and quantity of sleep to develop their thinking skills and ability to retain and recall information they learned. Lack of sleep has been shown to negatively affect a child’s school performance and test scores. Aim for your child to get an appropriate number of hours each day of quality sleep. Their brain needs it!
- 2. Nourish their body with foods that benefit brain health.
- Eggs are a rich source of vitamins and nutrients that are highly linked as supportive to brain health. Eggs contain choline, an essential nutrient which aids in brain cell formation and development.
- · Foods rich in omega 3s are also crucial for brain development. You can find an abundant source of omega 3s in a variety of fish, chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseeds, nuts, edamame, and kidney beans.
- 3. Don’t skip breakfast!
- Individuals that skip breakfast are more likely to perform worse academically. The brain performs best when it is fueled by food, and when a child skips breakfast it can result in poorer cognitive function, lower rates of memory retention and can lead to fatigue. When a child’s blood sugar level is stable, they can better focus and have the energy necessary to do well in school.
- When serving breakfast to your child, aim for high protein foods such as eggs, sausage and meats. Smoothies are also a great way to add protein to their day! Oatmeal with fruit is also a slow burning carb that allows them to feel fuller longer. Avoid breakfasts high in sugar such as cereals and pancakes, as those do not sustain them as well as a high protein filled breakfast.
- 4. Supplement if necessary.
- Supplements that have been best associated with increasing brain health are omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins, Vitamin D and Magnesium. Diet is superior to supplementation, however if you are lacking in areas such as fish consumption, supplementation is a good idea.
- 5. Engage in brain boosting activities.
- Play is essential for proper growth and development. Encourage your children to play with activities that challenge their brain such as blocks, puzzles, mazes, word searches, etc. Activities that require some thought are great ways to boost brain health!
- 6. Encourage physical activity
- Daily physical exercise brings higher levels of oxygen directly to the brain which aids in overall brain health. Studies have shown that those that regularly participate in physical activity have lower rates of Alzheimer’s and dementia, and improved memory and thinking skills.
- 7. Limit screen time
- Excessive screen time daily has been associated with a variety of negative outcomes. Children under the age of 2 should not regularly participate in screen related activities. Studies have shown higher incidences of mental health disorders such as ADHD and processing delays in children that are regularly exposed to excessive hours of screen time at a young age.
- 8. Encourage reading
- Reading enhances speech and brain development. The more you read to your child, the more exposure they get from vocabulary expansion to comprehension benefits. Reading is essential for brain development as it promotes cognitive health and better brain function.
- 9. Talk to them constantly!
- Talk to your children as much as you can. Narrate your day to your babies and toddlers! The more language they are exposed to, the better start they will have building a foundation of speech. This exposure to language helps build neurons in the brain and supports their cognitive function and overall development.
- 10. Get your kids outside in nature!
- Studies have shown a multitude of health benefits for those individuals that participate in outdoor recreational activities. Spending time in nature improves mood, cortisol levels, mental health disorders and reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Spending time outside is a great way to keep your brain healthy and clear and support your overall health.
For more information, check out these websites:
By: Jessica Tjhin Southworth
Can you hear that? It’s the sound of September barging right through the front door, alarms blaring at 6:30 AM, and the sudden, horrific realization that your child’s toes are jammed into shoes two sizes too small.
If school is already starting—or literally started yesterday—and your heart is doing a nervous jitterbug, welcome to the club. The Post-Labor Day Panic has officially entered the chat.
One minute you were floating through the chaotic bliss of summer bedtime rules, and the next you’re hyperventilating in the Target aisle because the supply bins are picked clean and your child’s teacher explicitly asked for primary colors only.
When September hits and we feel behind, our brain pulls a classic move: the panic-driven urge to fix our entire existence overnight. Meal prep three months of lunches by tomorrow? Sure! Build a color-coordinated calendar of activities tonight? Absolutely! Reorganize every closet in the house before sunrise? Why not!
Except trying to pull off a total life overhaul after the bell has already rung is precisely what sends us over the edge.
The Damage Control Plan: How to Fix Things Retroactively
If you didn’t spend August color-coding school year calendars or gracefully shifting sleep schedules, take a collective deep breath. You haven’t failed, and you don’t need to fix everything by tomorrow morning. You just need a retroactive slow-burn strategy.
- Ditch the “Fix It All Tonight” Trap: You cannot catch up on a month of prep in one evening. Pick one single micro-task to tackle each day. Monday is ordering the shoes. Tuesday is hunting for lost backpacks. Wednesday is staring into the abyss. See? Balance.
- Course-Correct Bedtimes After the Fact: If week one hit your kids’ sleep schedules like a freight train, don’t force a two-hour leap tonight. Shift bedtimes back by just 15 minutes every few days until you reach sanity. The mornings will be spicy for a minute, but everyone will adjust.
- The “Good Enough” Bento Box Rule: Put down the cookie cutters. Your child does not need star-shaped cucumbers or gourmet charcuterie boards to survive September. A sandwich, an apple, and goldfish crackers constitute a five-star culinary achievement.
- Embrace the Retroactive Checklist: Missing a form? Forgot the exact brand of disinfectant wipes on the teacher’s list? Send an email, order it online, and move on. Teachers are in survival mode right now, too—they care far more about a supported kid than a perfectly timed box of tissues.
- Lower the Bar for the Whole Month: If September involves cereal for dinner three nights a week and a forgotten library book, you are not a disaster—you’re just transitioning.
Take a deep breath, mama. The kids are going to be fine, you are doing a fantastic job, and September doesn’t get to steal your peace just because you didn’t start in August. Now go pour yourself a fresh iced coffee—you’ve earned it.
By: Cindy Guillory
1: Start early.
It is never too early to begin the conversation surrounding drugs and alcohol. Children will witness people engaged in smoking and drinking, so it is never too early to start addressing some of the things they will see. Try to keep the conversation age appropriate. Find scripts online if necessary.
2. Keep it simple, yet on-going
Keep the conversation simple but create an open dialogue that is more constant and on-going, rather than a one time “talk”. Keep the dialogue open as they are growing up so that they know you are open and available to discuss the subject.
3. Let them know your expectations
Explain to your kids your expectations of them regarding drug and alcohol use. Be clear with them how you feel about it, and how you would feel if they broke that trust. Parents have a strong influence on their kids and the decisions they make.
4. Explain both the immediate and long-term consequences of drug and alcohol use.
It is important to discuss not only the long-term effects of drug and alcohol use, but the short term effects as well. You could explain to them that smoking will cause their teeth to yellow, their breath to smell bad, how it will affect their athletic performance and the costs associated with it. Children and youth sometimes have a hard time visualizing consequences that are far in the future, so sharing immediate negative consequences is a good way to deter them from participating in those activities.
5. Discuss peer pressure
Explain to your kids about peer pressure and how likely and common that occurs. Share personal stories from your own life and let your child know that it is normal and common to feel pressured by friends. Explain to them that they can always use you as an excuse, and how the two of you can come up with a secret code word to use whenever your child needs to be picked up without an explanation. Let your child know that you are always available, any-time day or night to help them.
6. Explain Addiction
Explain how consuming drugs and/or alcohol can lead to addiction. Discuss the life-altering effects of an addiction and how it physically changes their brain. Explain what happens to those people who suffer with addiction and the struggles and obstacles that they face. Explain how difficult it is to get over addiction and how it is best to avoid anything that can lead to addiction.
7. Know the facts
Be informed about the facts surrounding substance abuse in America. Be a good source of knowledge regarding the subject and share what you know with your kids. Keep up to date on popular drugs in your area and how they are obtained and used.
8. Let your child know how loved they are
Build your child’s confidence by letting them know that they are loved and cared for, and the reason why you worry about them is because you want the best for them. A parent’s job is to guide and protect their children, and to keep them safe and secure. Let them know that the conversation is always open, and they can ask you any questions they have. Try not to get upset or show too much emotion during these conversations so as to not deter them from coming to you at another time. Children need to feel like their parents are their balanced and secure anchors, the port that keeps the ship safe, therefore do your best to remain calm, level-headed and compassionate during these conversations.
Know the signs of substance abuse in teens:
As parents it is necessary that we know the signs of substance abuse to look out for in our children. These symptoms can both be physical and behavioral.
Physical signs could include:
Changes in eye appearance (like bloodshot eyes), changes in weight, smell of smoke, shakiness, fatigue or hyperactivity, sudden changes in appearance, etc.
Behavioral changes could include:
Changes in emotional stability, mood swings, anger, temper, depression, withdrawing from family and friends, changing their friend group, avoiding eye contact, wanting to be left alone, personality changes, etc.
What to do if you expect your child is using drugs
If you suspect that your child is engaging in substance abuse, here are some tips on moving forward:
Confront your child with a calm manner at a time when they are not under the influence and are available to talk. Find a script online and rehearse it prior to beginning your conversation. Make sure that your child understands how much you love and care for them, and how you are only concerned about their wellbeing and safety. Talk to your child’s pediatrician to have the situation evaluated and then decide if more professional help is needed to address the situation. Rely on family and close friends for support during this time, you do not have to act alone in this situation.
Additional Resources:
https://www.healthparkpediatrics.com/tips-for-talking-to-kids-about-drugs/
https://www.turnbridge.com/news-events/latest-articles/talking-to-kids-about-drugs/
https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/substance-use/talk-to-child-about-drugs-alcohol
https://www.newportacademy.com/teen-substance-abuse/signs-symptoms/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NA_leads_performancemax&utm_term=&kpid=go_cmp-17884784088_adg-_ad-__dev-c_ext-_prd-&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPCyBhD4ARIsAPaaRf1DeHF0Ir-iASLmZlbuV2MgAjJiZ36egUczKukhJ3UOyGTlJy837asaApFQEALw_wcB
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/teen-addiction/drug/teen-using-drugs/
