'So, when does having a baby get easier?' The reasons why caring for six month old babies are especially tough...
there’s also a scientific reason behind a six-month low as it prompts a change in hormone levels. ‘Weaning can be associated with worsening mood in some mothers,’ says Dr Samantha Meltzer-Brody, director of the perinatal psychiatry program, at the University of North Carolina.
When breastfeeding stops, oxytocin levels – which has an anti-anxiety effect – drop as the hormone is no longer needed for lactation. Many women report feeling uptight and anxious as a result.’ Even cutting back on feeds, asOn top of the hormones and tiredness, there’s a dawning sense that you can no longer put your life on hold and it becomes decision time. That was certainly the case with me. When Tyler napped, instead of relaxing as I had in the early days, I’d be worrying about when to go back to work, childcare, finances… ‘It’s common to find yourself facing big questions about your life and your future as a family, which can cause anxiety,’ says Jona Lewin, consultant psychiatrist for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust. Psychotherapist Naomi Stadlen agrees. ‘At around six months, your baby has usually developed enough to enable you to start thinking of yourself a bit more.’ she says. ‘In fact, it’s a brilliant time to take stock and consider your future, but can end up being all too much if you’re not mentally prepared for this new phase.’If you find yourself worrying, channel your thoughts in a constructive way. ‘Set aside time every week to tackle tasks, such as looking intoAnd try to isolate any specific problems that are getting you down, rather than letting everything roll together and overwhelm you. ‘It might be that, for example, your career is a source of concern and you’d feel better after a chat with your boss, or half an hour online considering options,’ he adds. Most importantly, rather than beating yourself up about not being totally on top of things, cut yourself some slack. ‘A mum of a six month old needs to look after herself just as much – if not more so – than a mum of a six week old,’ says Sarah. ‘For half a year, you will have been so busy nurturing your baby that you may have forgotten to nurture yourself. But it’s vital to eat well, get plenty of rest and recharge your batteries whenever possible.’For mums caught up in the perfect storm of cumulative tiredness, hormonal havoc and high expectations, finding support should be a priority. ‘Whether you turn to mum friends, your family or your GP, the first step to overcoming a six-month slump is admitting you’re actually having one,’ says Sarah. If it threatens to tip over into something more serious – for example, you persistently feel sad, fatigued, irritable or can’t enjoy anything, including your baby – make sure your doctor rules out postnatal depression. ‘Some mothers find a proper diagnosis is missed in all the turmoil of the birth and the early days with a newborn,’ says Sarah. As long as it’s not PND, Liz advises dealing with your slump head-on by getting regular fresh air and socialising more. ‘Make sure you have an activity booked in at least once a day, so you get out of the house,’ she says. ‘If you don’t know where to start, sign up with your local children’s centre, which will have information on mother-and-baby groups.’‘As babies start to sleep better and you both get the hang of weaning, plus your hormones settle, you’ll be able to deal with things more easily,’ says Sarah. Now Tyler’s nearly 16 months old, and I’ve learned that it’s OK to have days that feel like a struggle and to be uncertain that I’m doing everything right. Most of all, my six-month slump taught me an important parenting lesson – that it’s always better to air fears and frustrations than to let them fester. for relatable memes, inspiring stories and parenting hacks!into the search bar and meet like-minded mums, win gorgeous goodies and have some fun!
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