Navigating Baby Loss

3: Dealing with Depression After Baby Loss

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Depression noun

: a state of feeling sad: low spirits : MELANCHOLYspecifically: a mood disorder that is marked by varying degrees of sadness, despair, and loneliness and that is typically accompanied by inactivity, guilt, loss of concentration, social withdrawal, sleep disturbances, and sometimes suicidal tendencies 

To anyone who has ever experienced any type of loss, these symptoms are all too familiar. Add in a traumatic life event like the loss of a baby and it is a dangerous situation for those who are experiencing it. Depression and anxiety are common following a loss with about 20% of women still reporting it 1-3 years after. This episode discusses how loss affects depression and what you can do about it so you are able to heal properly.

If you are listening to this and have someone in your life who is experiencing a pregnancy loss or stillbirth I would love to give you some advice on what NOT to say to them:

  1. Anything that starts with "at least..." at least you can have another baby, at least it happened early, at least you are young, at least you already have a child, etc.
  2. There must have been something wrong with the baby (then explain all the deformities, illnesses, and other things children are born with)
  3. God must have needed an angel (I needed one more)

There is a whole litany of phrases that aren't helpful and in fact, are actually damaging to someone who is emotionally fragile. I go into more detail about this in my e-book "The 10 Questions You ask Yourself When You Lose Your Baby". You can download it for free on my website. So I am pleading with you to just say things like this instead:

  1. I hate that you are going through this
  2. I am here to listen
  3. What can I do to make you feel a little better?

Resources mentioned in this episode-

"10 Questions" e-book- https://jennifersenncoaching.ck.page/questions
"Things I wish They'd Say" PDF- https://jennifersenncoaching.ck.page/things-i-wish
website-https://www.jennifersenn.com

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/navigatingbabyloss/

https://navigatingbabyloss.com/workshop

Free workshop for moms grieving stillbirth or pregnancy loss. Learn simple, trauma-informed practices to release guilt, calm the what-ifs, and honor your baby's memory with love instead of pain. Includes bonus Grief & Guilt Release Journal.

Download my FREE "Guilt and Grief Release Journal" at navigatingbabyloss.com/journal

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