We've all heard the stories of the first moment you see your newborn baby. We don't see bad things, but rather her beautiful face. In that moment, everything seems magical, the world around you disappears and all you can feel after a long, laborious and painful day is the immense love you feel for that baby. Don't get me wrong, parents, even if they haven't pulled out a melon between their legs, also feel this sensation. So the question is, is this real or is it our imagination?

Mothers around the world will tell you that moment is 100% real. It cannot be denied. It's an experience that really only mothers can understand. So far, science has made one thing clear: lThe way to develop a healthy human brain from childhood is through emotional bonding.. Indirectly, this means that the moment is not magical, in fact, it is the beginning of your newborn's healthy development and mothers only want the best for their children. In fact, according to an article published in 2017 on the perception of distress between mothers and their children, it mentions that this is a kind of innate biological wiring; parents are empathetic with the needs of their offspring almost as if the needs happened to themselves (Lee, Qu, & H Telzer, 2017). Mothers are not only predisposed to satisfy the needs of their children, but alsoEmotional bonding during early childhood helps emotional, social and cognitive development of babies, allowing them to fight illness and develop greater resilience.

In essence, it is magical and miraculous that we are so perfectly programmed to ensure the survival and development of our children.

Postpartum depression

Not all systems are going to work perfectly 100% of the time. As human beings, we experience different challenges throughout our lives that can affect our well-being and that of those around us. For this reason, I would like to pay special attention to women suffering from postpartum depression.

All mothers experience the natural anxiety, fear, and possibly melancholy that accompanies mood swings. This usually happens to most mothers during the first few weeks, especially because they lose sleep. However, the postpartum period can be much more intense and last much longer than the “blues.” Postpartum symptoms include, but are not limited to:

  • depressed mood
  • excessive crying
  • Difficulty bonding with the baby
  • Withdrawal from family and friends
  • Changes in appetite
  • Fear and guilt for not being able to care for your baby
  • Hopelessness

As we mentioned above, being able to bond with your baby really helps their health and emotional well-being. For a postpartum mother who is struggling with this bond, this can be very triggering as the bond is very fragile or emotionally draining. Please know that you are not alone. A chemical imbalance in your brain doesn't make you a terrible mother. There is no reason to feel ashamed when seeking help. It is not at all your fault and there are many resources available to help you, including medication and therapy. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can bond and enjoy the early days of motherhood, which everyone appreciates even when they're sleepless.

Angela Estrada

As a therapist, my mission is to create a safe, non-judgmental space so my clients can explore within themselves, learn, and grow in the process.

Specialist in stress, anxiety, depression, life changes, ADD/ADHD, eating disorders, neurological disorders, emotional disorders, vocations