Psychological Support for Mothers in the First Year of Their Baby’s Life
Support, understanding, and self-confidence – these are things we all need, especially during sensitive periods like the first year after a baby joins the family.
Our Marina Ecimović, a psychologist and psychotherapist specialized in maternal mental health, will lead support groups at Polyclinic Salvea. These groups are designed for mothers to share experiences and provide mutual support.
The Challenges and Joys of Motherhood
Becoming a mother and adapting to life with a small child involves numerous challenging yet beautiful moments. We hope the words of our psychologist will offer some comfort and understanding to mothers navigating this demanding phase of life.
Psychological Support for Mothers
During pregnancy, you probably selected everything you needed – strollers, carriers, car seats. Preparing materially for the baby’s arrival is straightforward. But what about the psychological preparation for parents expecting a new family member? Can one truly prepare for such a significant life change?
If you ask me, some experiences in life simply need to be lived through to transform us into new people. Motherhood is one such experience, bringing enormous changes that are impossible to fully anticipate. Changes that are not talked about enough.
The Reality of Motherhood
You might often wonder why motherhood is so different from what you imagined. Perhaps you also question who you are now that you are a mother. Just yesterday, you could watch TV shows all day, stay up as late as you wanted, and sleep whenever you wanted. Now, all of that is dictated by a small being weighing just a few kilograms.
Maybe you’re content with how your child came into the world or maybe you didn’t have the control during childbirth that you wanted. You soon realize how much of motherhood is beyond your control, even though you desperately wish it were otherwise. The postpartum period is a kind of mourning for the life you once had, which will never be the same again.
Navigating the Postpartum Period
During this time, you undergo significant changes. You bleed, your milk comes in, tears flow. You are making space for a new version of yourself, both physically and psychologically. Advice pours in from all sides – some you sought, but much you did not, often from people you didn’t even ask for an advice. You might accept some advice but reject other bits, feeling that you’re not listening to yourself enough, even though that’s the most important thing.
Later, you might realize that you followed advice you didn’t truly want to simply because you believed others knew better. You need to know that often it is exactly you who knows what should be done best. It will just take time to trust yourself as no one taught you to trust your own judgment.
Embracing Your Journey
You will make mistakes – because you are human. Some things come naturally, but much has to be learned, including one of life’s greatest lessons: how to change yourself to become a mother. It’s crucial to learn from your mistakes rather than punish yourself for them. Be gentle with yourself.
For support and guidance, contact Polyclinic Salvea and join our support groups. Allow yourself the grace to grow into your new role with understanding and compassion.