Postpartum Wellness- when its not your new normal

Pregnancy is by far the most beautiful experience one could ever be part of. Being a mother of a 5-year-old, I can say that, its one of the most unique and special type of bonding and love that exists. For a woman to create, grow, and give birth to another life is rather extraordinary. Its love in all purity and the moment you see the child, the feeling is unmeasurable.

This comes along with sometimes complications, scares, and sickness, but when you feel the first movement, it’s nothing but magical. Everything from movements, kicks, hearing heartbeats and seeing ultrasounds makes you just spellbound. But the journey of motherhood is not a cakewalk.

A womens body and mind go through many changes during and after pregnancy. There could be a feeling of being emotionless, sometimes you may feel you don’t love or care for your baby, This is a red flag for postpartum depression. No matter how beautiful the experience of motherhood is sometimes this can be very daunting for some. Depression is a common problem after pregnancy. 1 in 9 new mothers do face postpartum depression. New mothers may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed when they are supposed to be happy. Any woman can become depressed during pregnancy or after having a baby. It doesn’t mean you are a bad mother. Your doctor can help you figure out whether your symptoms are caused by depression or something else.

Making adjustments to everyday life after the birth of a baby has its challenges, especially if you’re a new mother. Although it’s important to take care for your baby, you also must take care of yourself. New mothers usually don’t return to work for at least 3 months. This allows time to adapt and develop a new normal after the arrival of the baby. Since a baby must be fed and changed, one may experience sleepless nights. This can be tiresome. The only hope is that you’ll eventually fall into a routine. Here I mention a few tips for an easier transition:

1. Rest. Get as much sleep whenever possible to cope with tiredness and fatigue. The baby may wake up every two to three hours for feeding. To make sure you’re getting enough rest, sleep when your baby sleeps. Fathers and other family members play a crucial role in helping when you would want to catch up on the lost sleep.
2. Seeking help. One should not hesitate to take help from family and friends during the postpartum period, as well as after this period. The body needs to heal. Friends or family can sometimes help with meals or other activities.
3. Healthy meals. A healthy diet promotes healing. Increase your intake of whole grains, green vegetables, fruits, and protein. One should also increase your fluid intake, especially if you are breast-feeding.
4. Exercise. The activity should not be strenuous. Try taking a walk near your house. The change of scenery is refreshing and can increase your energy level. But do check with your doctor first.

Also, do note that if you are healthy and happy only then it would be viable for the baby to thrive in the environment that you make for the child. Please do share this piece with anyone who might be going through this or your friends who are planning for a baby.