Postpartum care is all about looking after yourself in the few weeks
after the birth of your baby. If you're feeling relaxed and happy,
chances are everyone in the family will be too. The postpartum can be
difficult for some mums as their body recovers from the stresses of
labour. So don't worry if the house isn't perfect or the dishes don't
get done and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Remember
Superwoman is a myth!
Postpartum is the period of about six weeks
from the time of birth until your body makes the adjustments it needs to
return to normal. There are a few things that can go wrong and if
you're aware of these you'll be prepared and they won't seem so
frightening.
Postpartum hemorrhage ~ This may happen straight
after the birth, but sometimes up to several hours later. There is a
significant loss of blood which can be serious and needs instant
treatment.
Fortunately postpartum hemorrhage is rare, affecting under
20% of all births. Some blood loss is quite normal during this period
and is nothing to be concerned about.
Postpartum preeclampsia ~
Although this is mainly a symptom of pregnancy, preeclampsia can happen
after giving birth as well. Preeclampsia symptoms are high blood
pressure and excess protein in the urine. The signs that you may have
this condition are recurring headaches and/or blurred vision.
Preeclampsia is serious if untreated. Fortunately it can be successfully
treated if caught in time.
Postpartum depression ~ This is a very
common complaint and can vary from mild to extreme. It's mainly caused
by hormonal changes in your body. A feeling of loss of identity may also
cause you to feel depressed.
What are the postpartum depression
signs? Well you may be feeling overwhelmed, sad, excessively tired,
uninterested and above all, guilty that you're feeling this way,
Because, after all, this should be a happy time, shouldn't it?
Just
be assured that you are perfectly normal and that thousands of women
are going through this phase and have been since the dawn of time.
Understand
that your body has been through a tremendous amount of stress and that
it will take some time to recover. Giving birth poses both physical and
psychological changes both at the same time.
You may also be feeling
excluded when family and friends are making a fuss of your baby and
you're no longer the main attrraction. This feeling of loss of identity
is quite normal and you're just being human.
You also have the
huge responsibility of caring for a newborn while dealing with sleep
deprivation at the same time. No wonder your feeling exhausted, scared
and anxious. This is perfectly normal and will probably last for a week
or two. If it persisits or gets worse, you may have to visit your
doctor.
Although postpartum depression is a form of depression, it
has a clinical cause so be wary of prescribed depression drugs. These
have a low success rate and are totally unsuitable if you're
breastfeeding. I'll leave you with one important natural way of handling
postpartum depression.
Take Omega 3 supplements. Omega 3 is also
found in fish, but with all the mercury contamination in some fish,
supplements are the safest way to go. Omega 3 is a great way to boost
your mood and is good for your and your baby's health as well.
Author,
Wendy Owen
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