Easing Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression takes a toll on many, many moms out there. Many suffer in silence with no support and do nothing to treat it. Or they do treat it with prescription drugs... which I do admit, is better than nothing... BUT there is a MUCH better way, it's all natural, and doesn't have the harmful side effects that drugs do.

doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality has been THE number one thing that has helped me postpartum. Depression worsens when we don't have the nutrition, and this is the easiest way to get a power pack of nutrition. And all the ingredients are in their bio-available form, so you're actually absorbing the nutrients unlike what happens in regular multi-vitamins or prenatal vitamins. It has the omega 3's in it that are so important to treat depression. And there's essential oils in these supplements which have so many benefits, too many to count.

Look, all the facts and info about what's in these supplements are here. But all I can tell you, is that I had the BEST pregnancy while taking these, and I've had THE BEST postpartum ever! I didn't have these supplements for my first two pregnancies and postpartum, so I can tell you that the difference has been 180 degrees!

After my other pregnancies, I had changing moods, left and right, and I just didn't feel right. I was ALWAYS tired, I was withdrawn from my husband, or else I just snapped at him all the time. Breastfeeding was miserable. I even had fleeting thoughts of suicide, or thinking that my family would be better off without me. And of course I drowned all these thoughts and feelings in sugar, so I got fatter and fatter, and the cycle would go around and around, and I'd get more and more depressed.

Well, THIS time... I've been much happier, I haven't had ANY mood swings... even that first week after the baby was born where there's a HUGE adjustment and hormones are fluctuating. I didn't even FEEL like my hormones were fluctuating, I felt NORMAL. Which was awesome! And, even when my baby was getting up to eat in the middle of the night, I didn't feel exhausted like I did with my other babies. I actually had ENERGY during the day. Also... I had struggles with breastfeeding in the past because of supply issues, namely, I had an overabundant supply. But I think these supplements have helped with my milk supply too, so I haven't had ANY of those same breastfeeding issues this time. And I'm SOOOO happy to say that I'm still breastfeeding at 6 months!

doTERRA's Lifelong Vitality pack has been amazing for me in so many ways, I can't list them all here. I don't think I've had a single issue with postpartum depression this time, not even a mild case of baby blues. To buy, click here, and find the Lifelong Vitality Pack under Wellness. Or... contact me and I can tell you how easy it is to get them for $20 cheaper per month.

Fantastic Friday

So it's Friday, and today is the day that I track my fantastic results!

So, I changed to my healthy eating lifestyle 10 weeks ago, and I've been working out for 7 weeks now. And... the best results to report are that I feel awesome! I have energy! I haven't been sick for 7 weeks now. (Which is an amazing feat, especially since this whole winter, I've gotten sick once or twice a month!) My mind feels clear, my nose is clear, and it's CLEAR that I need to do some clothes shopping! ;)

Now the numbers...

...I've lost 11 pounds, and 9.5 inches total! (3 of those inches came off my waist, and 2 off my hips! WOOHOO!)

And... I had some fun the other day trying on my old high school prom dresses... And they fit!



The angle is off because I had my daughter take this picture today, but Travis (my husband) loved seeing me in my old dresses! (Especially since I went to my Junior Prom with him!)

Also, yesterday was my birthday. I had an amazing day! Especially since I started the day off by getting up early and did some core exercises and some yoga. It was a great way to start celebrating the day of my birth with gratitude for my body.

I have so much to be grateful for. And I think that is the number one key to having Postpartum Joy. Gratitude. No matter how small, there is always something to be grateful for. And when we focus on that, it is only then can we feel joy, and our lives will be improved.

Changing the definition of Postpartum

Postpartum...

Most of the time, even just that one word... makes people think of depression, like that very word automatically means depression. Yes, there are many, MANY women who suffer from postpartum depression. But just the word postpartum by itself means the period of time after having a baby.

So, it is my desire to change the way people think about postpartum. That we can actually enjoy every moment after we have a baby. Yes, postpartum JOY is actually possible. How do I know this? Because I've experienced it. I've also experienced the other end as well...



You see... this was me about 3 years ago... Fat and depressed.

This was me about a year and a half after I had my second baby. In fact, I got down to pretty close to my pre-pregnancy weight pretty fast. But then, over the next year or so, I gained about 30 lbs! I was so depressed, breastfeeding sucked, I resented my baby sometimes, I couldn't WAIT until my kids slept, I was merely surviving everyday, doing nothing for myself. My life was out of control. I was so hormonal and stressed that THE minute we put our kids to bed I went straight downstairs gathered all the junk food I was hiding... ice cream, chips, candy, chocolate and plop myself in front of the TV and dive right in. I was VERY much an emotional eater... and that food kept me in my depression. It was a never-ending tail-spin! There were even times where I was just so fed up, and thought, "What's the point in going on??" and even thought about ending my life.

But...

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.



This is me today... 5 months after my third baby...full of joy, and THRIVING everyday instead of merely just surviving.

These past 5 months have been night and day difference than the time after my first and second babies.

What's different???

I'm not depressed, I don't gorge myself on junk food anymore, I love and relish any moment I have with my baby and my kids, breastfeeding is going beautifully, I'm actually losing weight, I do things that feed MY soul, and I'm enJOYing life! Every moment!!!

Want to know what changed? How have I achieved this??

Well, there are several things. The biggest things have been that I'm actually taking care of myself. I've improved my health, worked on some things personally, and I've found ways to live in the present. So keep reading my blog to find out the different ways HOW I've achieved Postpartum Joy.

Postpartum does NOT have to mean fat and depressed. Come, join with me as I record my journey of enjoying motherhood everyday.