Postpartum Meditation Helping New Mothers

Many new moms suffer from postpartum depression. Now a new imagery program is helping many of them get through it.

First-time mom Ashley Bell thought motherhood would be like a fairy tale. But soon after she gave birth, reality hit.

"I was really sad," said Bell. "I remember just sitting there and crying, just sobbing, because I just couldn't get happy and I wanted so badly to be."

Extreme hormonal changes occur after birth. Experts say four out of five moms experience negative feelings for the first two weeks, known as 'baby blues.' But if these negative feelings persist it could turn into postpartum depression.

"We say that someone has postpartum depression if they have persistent negative feelings for almost all of the day for at least two weeks," said OB-GYN Dr. Kerri Parks.

Dr. Parks had a history of postpartum depression, but after her fourth pregnancy, she went through an especially difficult time when she lost her husband in a fatal car crash. Dr. Parks tried various treatments, but she felt meditation helped her the most.

"There are clinical studies that prove that mediation will help with most mental disorders," said Dr. Parks. (MORE)

Source: ABC 7