Things That Ruin Your Mood After Birth — And How to Avoid Them

After giving birth, your body and mind go through huge changes, and many new moms experience mood swings, stress, or frustration. Some everyday issues can make you feel overwhelmed, while small, practical steps can help you feel more like yourself again.
In this post, I’ll share the main things that can ruin your mood after birth, along with practical tips, my personal experience, and simple solutions — including natural remedies and a few products that really helped me recover quickly.

1️⃣ Postpartum Constipation

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Constipation after giving birth is super common — it’s caused by hormonal changes, slowed digestion, and sometimes pain from stitches or a C-section incision. Honestly, it’s one of the most mood-wrecking issues for new moms. Spending long minutes in the bathroom, dealing with pain, bleeding, and the pressure on your perineum or C-section wound can make you feel totally drained.

Here are some tips that really helped me:

• Move whenever you can: Even light movement helps get your bowels going.
• Drink plenty of water throughout the day. Staying hydrated makes a huge difference.
• Eat fiber-rich foods: Fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or dried fruits like prunes are excellent. I personally tried prunes and they worked wonders for me! You can get them easily on Amazon.
• Whole grain cereals: In the first few weeks, I didn’t have time to prepare a full breakfast, so I relied on Weetabix Chocolate (just two biscuits at breakfast) — and it worked amazingly 😍.
• Don’t ignore the urge to go: When you sit on the toilet, try raising your knees above hip level — it makes passing stool much easier.
• Morning olive oil: A friend suggested a spoon of olive oil on an empty stomach, which also helped ease bowel movements.

Extra tip for constipation:

Tucks pads These are originally used to relieve pain and irritation from constipation or anal fissures, but they also work wonderfully for soothing perineal stitches or swelling after birth. The cooling and soothing effect can help you feel more comfortable and move around more freely.

How it works: Witch Hazel pads cool and calm the area, while the lidocaine cream provides targeted relief. These were a lifesaver for calming my perineal stitches.

Feeling comfortable down there really helps your mood and overall recovery — trust me, even small steps like these make a huge difference in those first postpartum weeks.

2️⃣ Perineal Pain After Birth

Perineal pain after delivery can be really tough — it’s sore, uncomfortable, and honestly can affect your mood more than you expect. Whether you had stitches, tearing, or swelling, the pressure in that area can make simple things like sitting or using the bathroom feel overwhelming. The good news is that with gentle care and a few practical steps, healing can feel much easier.

Here’s what helped me:

• Cooling pads instead of regular ice packs. Postpartum cooling pads worked perfectly to reduce swelling and soothe soreness without the mess of separate ice packs.
• Keep the area clean and dry. Using a peri bottle with warm water after bathroom trips was much gentler than wiping. An antiseptic spray was also easier and more hygienic for daily care.
• Ask your doctor about an anti-inflammatory ointment if pain feels intense.
• Raw honey may support wound healing and help calm irritation when used topically. Medical research supports its healing properties:

👉 https://www.healthline.com/health/honey-on-wounds

Another thing that truly helped was using a sitz bath. Warm water soaks increase blood flow, reduce swelling, and soothe stitches or hemorrhoids. I found it especially helpful during the first two weeks postpartum. A simple option like the Dr. Talbot’s Mom Sitz Bath fits over a standard toilet and makes it easy to use at home.

You can also add sitz bath salts to the warm water. These blends usually contain soothing minerals and calming herbs that may help reduce swelling, support healing of perineal stitches, and ease inflammation. Some varieties include gentle aromatherapy ingredients, which can help lift your mood during those early postpartum days when baby blues can sneak in.

Having the right essentials ready made a huge difference for me. A postpartum recovery kit — like 👉🏼the Glammomy Postpartum Kit — usually includes:

• Cooling pads
• Soothing liners
• A peri bottle
• Hot & cold packs
• Anti-inflammatory cream

These small tools helped me calm the area, move more comfortably, and even sleep better — and trust me, when you’re a new mom, that kind of comfort makes all the difference. 💜

💜 Emotional & Mental Changes After Birth

No one really prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster after having a baby. One minute you feel overwhelming love, and the next you feel anxious, tearful, or completely exhausted. And yes — that’s normal.

Postpartum mood swings are very common due to hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and the huge life adjustment of caring for a newborn. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Here’s what helped me mentally:

• Accept that your hormones are shifting. Estrogen and progesterone drop quickly after birth, and that alone can affect your mood. If you feel emotional for “no reason,” there actually is a reason.
• Don’t pressure yourself about your body. Your body just carried and delivered a baby. Healing comes first. Weight loss can wait.
• Sleep whenever possible. I know — easier said than done. But even short naps can reset your mood more than scrolling on your phone.
• Ask for help. Whether it’s your partner, your mom, or a friend — you don’t have to do everything alone.
• Step outside for fresh air. Even 10 minutes can shift your mindset.

And most importantly — if sadness feels heavy, constant, or overwhelming, talk to a healthcare provider. Postpartum depression is real, and getting support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Motherhood is beautiful, yes — but it’s also physically, emotionally, and socially demanding. Taking care of yourself is not selfish. It’s necessary.
You deserve to heal gently.

💜 Final Thoughts

The postpartum period can feel overwhelming, emotional, and physically exhausting. Your body is healing, your hormones are shifting, and your entire world just changed overnight. It’s a vulnerable season — and it’s completely okay if it feels messy or hard.

But here’s something I want you to remember: this phase is temporary. The discomfort, the mood swings, the sleepless nights — they don’t last forever. Little by little, your body heals. Your strength comes back. Your confidence grows.

One day, you’ll wake up and realize you feel lighter, stronger, and more like yourself again — maybe even more resilient and energized than before.

Be gentle with yourself. Accept help. Rest when you can. And remind yourself that healing takes time — but it does happen.

You’re not failing.
You’re recovering.
And you’re doing better than you think. 💜