3.66 million births occurred in America in 2021. That means 3.66 million mamas running on two hours of sleep, recovering from childbirth, and trying to figure out how to care for this tiny new human they brought home. 3.66 million chances of mastitis, postpartum depression and urinary incontinence.
What About Mom
The lack of emphasis on maternal health during the postpartum period in America is appalling. The focus is on the newborn, but what about Mom?
She just gave birth and either feels like she went on the world’s longest bike ride or has significant abdominal pain. She is also not sleeping at all, experiencing a roller coaster of emotions, trying to figure out how to feed a baby AND is expected to get her body back in less than two weeks. We can do better!
3 People to Support Your Maternal Health
Moms, if you are not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of your baby? The newborn phase is hard, but here are a few key people that you should surround yourself with to help during this new phase in life.
A Lactation Consultant:
Trying to figure out how to feed a baby is probably the hardest part of the newborn phase. No one should have to figure it out alone. Having a great lactation consultant can help with latching, low supply, feeding positions and painful nipples.
HOWEVER, it is okay to give your baby formula. I repeat: It is okay to give your baby formula. When breastfeeding starts to affect Mom’s mental health, offering formula is a perfectly acceptable option. Some lactation consultants can help with formula feeding or combo feeding. Breastfeeding is hard, but if breastfeeding is your goal, a lactation consultant can help you achieve it.
I had two non-successful breastfeeding journeys and the societal pressure to breastfeed definitely affected my mental health. Giving my babies formula was the best thing I could have done for my mental health. Both of my kids are thriving now. However you want to feed your baby is perfectly acceptable!
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist:
Postpartum depression affects 10-15% of mothers and postpartum anxiety affects 20-20% of mothers. PPD and PPA are much more serious than “the baby blues” and should not be ignored. They can affect the relationship between Mom and Baby.
Your life has completely changed and your hormones are fluctuating like crazy. Your emotional well being is so important in order to help you take care of your baby. A happy, secure mama leads to a happy, secure baby. An LMFT can help you practice mindfulness to regulate emotions, teach you coping techniques, and help you manage relationships to allow you to be the best mama to your little babe.
A Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist:
Childbirth is an injury to your body regardless of delivery method. Your pelvic floor muscles stretch one to three times its resting length during a vaginal delivery. A C-section is major abdominal surgery. Your body has been through significant physiological changes that need to be rehabilitated.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help you regain your core and pelvic floor strength, address scar tissue in the pelvic floor or abdomen and help you safely return to exercise after delivery.
Peeing your pants while coughing, sneezing or jumping is very common after having a baby. Pain with sex is very common after having a baby. Frequent trips to the bathroom are very common after having a baby. However, these things are NOT normal, and are NOT symptoms you have to live with just because you had a baby.
Every postpartum woman should see a pelvic floor physical therapist at least once, if not more, to safely rehabilitate and prevent issues such as diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. This will allow mamas to participate in activities they love without fear of peeing their pants every time someone tells a joke.
Your Health is Important
Being a mom is the hardest job in the world, especially in a country that does not prioritize maternal health. But there are a few things that moms can do to take care of themselves to allow motherhood to be the most rewarding job in the world. Take care of yourself, Mama, and ask for the help you need!
