{"id":124607,"date":"2022-05-03T11:00:56","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T10:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=124607"},"modified":"2023-03-05T19:57:58","modified_gmt":"2023-03-05T19:57:58","slug":"postpartum-care","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/postpartum-care.htm","title":{"rendered":"Postpartum Care – The Bigger Picture You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo by Sarah Chai from Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

by Liz Szalai<\/span><\/p>\n

General postpartum care has a focus on<\/strong> physical health, and watching out for signs of postpartum depression<\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

While resting up and watching out for<\/strong> the baby blues<\/a> are very important, are there other things that need to become part of the conversation?<\/span><\/p>\n

What else should you take into account when planning your postpartum care?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Mental health and postpartum care\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Postpartum depression, like all forms of depression, can be <\/strong>hard to pinpoint a cause for. It’s thought to be a combination of changing hormones and a predisposition to mental health issues. Other factors can raise your risk, including an at risk pregnancy, a traumatic birth, and poor lifestyle choices<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But there are other challenges postpartum that we do clearly know can affect your moods. Recognising these potential mood destroyers in advance can help.<\/em><\/p>\n

1. Sleep deprivation.<\/span><\/h3>\n

In a still not fully understood, chicken or egg sort of situation<\/strong>, poor sleep is directly connected to mental health issues<\/a>. This includes depression and anxiety<\/a>, as well as other problems like bipolar disorder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you already easily fall prey to<\/strong> sleep problems<\/a>, and sleep problems then affect your mood? Note that the pattern of nighttime wakings a newborn involves, called ‘partial sleep deprivation’,\u00a0 is particularly damaging. <\/span><\/p>\n

According to a US study<\/a>, “<\/span>\u201cpartial sleep deprivation has a more profound effect on functioning than either long-term or short-term sleep deprivation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

2. Lack of control over your body and your life.<\/span><\/h3>\n

The body that grown a human (or several) for nine months<\/strong> is still not yours after birth. Your<\/span> body will be food (if you decide to breastfeed), a couch to nap on, a toy to pull, mouth and bite, and your baby\u2019s comfort zone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, the life you lived before went through significant changes<\/strong>. You can feel you don\u2019t have control over anything<\/a>, because the baby\u2019s needs overwrite a lot of things. Part of postpartum care can be about acceptance of what is.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Your relationships with your partner and family.<\/span><\/h3>\n
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Photo by William Fortunato from Pexels<\/p><\/div>\n

Introducing a new member in the family changes the dynamics of the couple.<\/strong> There is a lack of time for intimacy, and changes in libido<\/a>. Fathers can find themselves receiving less attention, and mothers might resent that fathers get to go on with their lives with fewer changes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And then there is extended family. Yes, their support can be<\/strong> very valuable in the postnatal period. But sometimes their unsolicited parenting advice can cause conflict<\/a> or stress, even though they mean well.<\/span><\/p>\n

4. The breastfeeding debate.\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

A 2019 study<\/span><\/a> examines the mental health effects of decisions related to breastfeeding. They emphasise the responsibility of<\/strong> health care providers to support mothers through this time, not just with practical lactation issues, but emotionally. <\/span><\/p>\n

And then there is the myth about breastfeeding being a natural easy thing,<\/strong> like a duck taking to water. It isn’t. Some women need lactation specialists as part of their postpartum care, or find breastfeeding is not possible. As the study points out–<\/span><\/p>\n

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–women \u201cmay also need to educate family members to be realistic and supportive of women who may have difficulties with exclusive breastfeeding. Or who decide to stop breastfeeding early, whether due to physical, emotional, or practical issues\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Postpartum psychosis<\/span><\/h2>\n

It is also very important to be aware of the risk o<\/strong>f postpartum psychosis<\/a>. A condition that gets less press than the baby blues, it can be a very dangerous situation for both baby and mother.<\/p>\n

Postpartum psychosis<\/span><\/strong> develops within six weeks of childbirth, and symptoms can consist of:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n