For some parents, the phrase “care for yourself” may sound impossible or inappropriate. There’s a newborn in the house, so self-care is no longer an option.

It’s one of life’s cruelest situations. After nine months of excitement and anticipation, the process of childbirth is traumatic.

Most folks have heard of the “baby blues” — more technically known as postpartum depression. But postpartum anxiety gets much less notice.

The first thing to understand about postpartum depression is that it can feel very unjust. A woman spends nine months riding the roller coaster of pregnancy.