How Does Postpartum Depression Affect Babies?

If you have recently been diagnosed, or are wondering if you have postpartum depression, in addition to figuring out how to care for yourself, you may be asking "How does postpartum depression affect my baby?" There are a few key points to consider with this question.

If you are wondering this, I want to make sure you take it as a sign that you are a good mom. Good moms consider their impact on their children. Postpartum depression may be clouding your view, and causing thoughts about how you are a bad mom, or if you were a good mom you would do x, y, or z. Having postpartum depression ≠ being a bad mom. 

The phrase "good enough mother" was first coined in 1953 by Donald Winnicott, a British pediatrician and psychoanalyst. Winnicott observed thousands of babies and their mothers, and he came to realize that babies and children actually benefit when their mothers fail them in manageable ways. (This excludes major failures, such as child abuse and neglect, of course.) And guess what? We don’t have to get it right 100% of the time to create a secure and loving bond with our children. Perfection is impossible, “good enough” is the goal. 

It's important to remember your baby cannot read your mind! If you're having thoughts about how you hate motherhood or you don't feel connected to your baby- your baby does not know that. Your baby knows if she is comforted when she cries, eats when she's hungry, and is changed when needs a diaper change. 

However, what parents and other early caregivers do can affect the infants in their care, but it's important to remember brains are not static. Though our early childhood experiences can impact us deeply, there is always time to work on relationships. If you haven't felt connected to your baby due to experiencing postpartum depression, try not to get caught in shame. Start by doing something small-  look into your baby's eyes, sing her a song, stroke her head. These all small things that you can choose to do to work on your bond. 

If you are concerned about postpartum depression, please seek help! At Roots & Branches Wellness all our providers have advanced training from Postpartum Support International in treating postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety and would love to support you through this time.