{"id":333437,"date":"2017-12-05T18:42:07","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T10:42:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mariefranceasia.com\/uncategorized-hk\/instagram-mom-influencers-post-partum-depression-333437.html"},"modified":"2017-12-05T18:42:07","modified_gmt":"2017-12-05T10:42:07","slug":"instagram-mom-influencers-post-partum-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mariefranceasia.com\/hk\/parenting-hk\/advice-for-mums-hk\/instagram-mom-influencers-post-partum-depression-333437.html","title":{"rendered":"'Perfect Mom': Could Instagram affect postpartum depression among new mothers?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/span><\/p>

With their curated, picture-perfect feed of that effortless \"mommy glow\", pictures of their seemingly tantrum-free children<\/a> and impeccable homemaking and cooking skills that just scream \"domestic bliss\", Instagram mommy influencers are certainly the textbook definition of #MomGoals and the visual embodiment of the 'perfect mothers' we all strive to be.<\/p>

But it appears that the myth of Instagram-perfect motherhood only feeds into an existing pressure that women face - that can have implications on the postpartum mental health of new mothers.<\/p>

\"The Goddess Myth\"<\/span> <\/h2>

In its October cover story, TIME magazine highlighted the\u00a0\u201cThe Goddess Myth\u201d phenomenon - i.e. the growing cultural pressures faced by women to \u201cmother well\u201d<\/strong>, and the emotional consequences of failing to live up that Instagram-worthy, social expectations of motherhood<\/strong>. <\/p>

In their survey of 913 mothers, TIME found that half of all new moms experienced regret, shame, guilt or anger because of failing to meet these preconceived expectations<\/strong> (whether during pregnancy, birth or delivery), as well as a lack of support. These feelings rose from issues as grave\u00a0as a near-fatal or birth complication to breastfeeding<\/a> challenges like lactation difficulties - scenarios that don't fit into that \"perfect mom\" narrative. In fact, it's a consistent thread among the women surveyed: the vulnerability you feel when your reality and biology do not match up to your pregnancy ideals and best-laid motherhood plans.<\/strong><\/p>

Instagram & Postpartum Depression: Correlated or Cause?<\/span> <\/h2>

It's important to note that while researchers found that traumatic birth experience can contribute to the likelihood of a postpartum mood disorder like postpartum depression<\/a> or anxiety, there is no evidence to link unmet expectations to it. As such, while unmet expectations do correlate<\/em> with PPD, they aren\u2019t likely to cause it<\/em>. <\/p>

However, they concede that traumatic elements during birth are subjective and affects everyone differently. For one, women who have experienced other kinds of trauma in their lives, like a personal loss or abuse, are more likely to experience perinatal anxiety or depression<\/a>, which are only worsened by motherhood-related disappointments. <\/p>

Irregardless, doctors says it is important for mothers-to-be and their OBGYN to identify mental health symptoms during <\/strong>the pregnancy,, rather than after birth when the stakes are higher. So if you are conceiving, or know someone who is, and find that they may be at risk of a postpartum mood disorder, it's certainly time to call medical attention to it as soon as you can.\u00a0<\/p>

Whether or not following your favourite influencer moms<\/a> on Instagram is helpful or a hindrance to your motherhood experience is still unclear. However, it's best to approach it with an understanding that ultimately, these feeds are a curated reflection of someone's life. And that hey - you're doing a great job as a mother, anyway.<\/p>

Sarah Khan \u00a0<\/em><\/p>

READ MORE:<\/span> <\/h2>

\u2018Money Dates\u2019: An alternative date night idea essential for a healthy marriage<\/a><\/p>

The \u2018Fifth Trimester\u2019: 9 Tips to successfully adjust back to work post-baby<\/a><\/p> ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Instagram mommy influencers: are they inspirational or unrealistic? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":608,"featured_media":290511,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"The myth of Instagram-perfect motherhood feeds into a pressure that women face to be perfect mothers - which may affect their postpartum mental health.","_is_translated":false,"_source_post_url":"","is_displayed_in_hp":false,"displayed_in_hp_after_update":false,"is_thumb_featured":false,"template_without_diapo":"","enable_bloc_resume":false,"bloc_resume_post":[],"ctc_post":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16999],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-333437","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advice-for-mums-hk"],"yoast_head":"\nCould Instagram affect postpartum depression among new mothers? - Hong Kong<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The myth of Instagram-perfect motherhood feeds into a pressure that women face to be perfect mothers - 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