Postpartum Isolation and Loneliness in New Motherhood
Postpartum Isolation
The postpartum period can end up being a very isolating time for new moms, and this can increase perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs). In America alone, 51% of mothers feel “serious loneliness” and these feelings can impact their mental health and cause anxiety and depression. Many new mothers will experience isolation from their familiar social networks and their close families.
Social isolation is the absence of social connections, and loneliness is one’s feeling of being alone. These two are not the same, however, social isolation in mothers can lead to loneliness and concerning physical and mental health outcomes.
“I have personally suffered from isolation and feelings of loneliness throughout my 4 years of being a mother. Sometimes I feel left out, unrelatable, and even misunderstood by family and friends. But throughout the years I have learned some coping mechanisms and formed relationships with people that really understand me and I hold those close to my heart. “- Unnati
Why are New Mothers Lonely?
Getting back to what may feel like “your normal self” after having a child can take anywhere from 6 months to a full year for new moms(Gurevich, 2020). But also realize, that once you are postpartum, you are always postpartum. There are a multitude of potential causes to postpartum isolation.
Researchers have reason to believe that these can be due to:
Economic status
Lack of childcare
Health status
Spousal support
Tiredness
Not wanting to leave their child
Adverse Health Outcomes Due to Postpartum Isolation
Isolation and the feelings of loneliness that it brings can expose postpartum mothers to adverse health outcomes as previously mentioned.
Obesity
High blood pressure
Sedentism
Mental health impacts.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that individuals who experience social isolation, or feelings of loneliness, are at a 29% increased risk for heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke. When it comes to physical health, many postpartum mothers who experience social isolation also experience depression due to their feelings of loneliness and not feeling that anyone is there for them.
Covid-19’s Impact
The recent and ongoing pandemic caused by Covid-19 has largely impacted many postpartum mothers’ daily lives. During the pandemic, many new mothers received virtual postpartum appointments instead of in-person appointments which probably led to postpartum mood and anxiety disorders going undiagnosed. The lockdown had also caused increased anxiety in mothers due to the fear and risk of venturing outside to visit their family or friends or letting them come visit her and the baby. Hopefully with things getting back to normal
Things new moms can do to help with the loneliness
Accepting and seeking help can be difficult for mothers at times because they probably place themselves last. Remember, you have to put yourself at the top of the list so you can properly care for your little one with the proper mental clarity and mindset. There are a few activities and resources that new moms can reference to help them with their loneliness and isolation.
Follow your normal routine
Making sure you follow your normal daily routine will provide you with some normalcy and stability in your day. Also be sure to maintain your healthy habits, such as healthy eating, hydration, exercise, journaling, meditation, yoga, getting enough sleep, or anything else that makes you happy.Zoom/Facetime
One thing that Covid-19 popularized was video calling. When you are feeling isolated and may not be able to leave your child at home due to various reasons, this can be an outlet for you and your friends or family to connect virtually. This allows you to get some socialization with friends and family that may help to reduce feelings of loneliness.Seek out groups for moms
Many new mothers have many similarities and sometimes organize groups for support during both the pregnancy and postpartum periods of motherhood. There may be local mom groups that do things together such as exercise, yoga, amusement parks, art classes, museums, etc. Finding a new mom group, whether it is a “just for mom” group or a “mom and baby” group is very beneficial. You can check out MOPS, or Mothers of Preschoolers, which is a website where mothers can use the group search option to find a mom group that fits you and your interests. Facebook and Peanut are other great apps that help moms connect with other moms either locally or virtually.
Written by: Megan Brown, MPH Candidate
If you are looking for more support and guidance throughout your postpartum journey then feel free to contact me for a FREE discovery call. I also offer a maternity consultation where we chat about the level of support you are looking for, ways to prepare for the postpartum phase, and get you ready for this journey that is motherhood. I have a Postpartum EBOOK releasing soon! Email me if you want to be the first to know when it gets released!
NIGHT NIGHT,
Unnati
Resources:
Cacioppo, John T et al. “Social isolation.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences vol. 1231,1 (2011): 17-22. doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2011.06028.x
Goyal, Deepika, and Nancy W Selix. “Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Mental Health.” MCN. The American journal of maternal child nursing vol. 46,2 (2021): 103-109. doi:10.1097/NMC.0000000000000692
Deems, Nicholas P, and Benedetta Leuner. “Pregnancy, postpartum and parity: Resilience and vulnerability in brain health and disease.” Frontiers in neuroendocrinology vol. 57 (2020): 100820. doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2020.100820
Cacioppo, John T et al. “Loneliness as a specific risk factor for depressive symptoms: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.” Psychology and aging vol. 21,1 (2006): 140-51. doi:10.1037/0882-7974.21.1.140
Mandai, M., Kaso, M., Takahashi, Y. et al. Loneliness among mothers raising children under the age of 3 years and predictors with special reference to the use of SNS: a community-based cross-sectional study. BMC Women's Health 18, 131 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-018-0625-x