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Babylune

A Long List of Discomforts

by kate baggott on January 17th, 2006

To call new motherhood stressful is not just a cliché. It’s an understatement. I am not sure if it is social conditioning or some hormonal flood that causes women to make themselves their last priority after giving birth. Of course, even during the immediate post-partum period, a crying newborn and relating to a whining, jealous older sibling(s) both take precedence over a little relaxation time. And those of us who have to work for much needed household money while we raise our newborns have other priorities to put before our discomforts too. Being on, being productive and being in motion all the time, though, makes it easy to forget that a bunch of dirty dishes in the sink or yet another load of laundry to fold can wait.

My goal in writing this blog is to encourage every new mother (myself included) to do at least one thing to protect her own health and well being each day. Not only do your children need a strong healthy mother. You need to be able to rely on your body to perform all the tasks demanded of you. More importantly, when you can’t perform all those tasks, you need to be able to rely on your psyche to say “OK, enough. I can’t do anything more right now. I need a break”

According to all my research, the first six weeks after giving birth are the most important to a mother’s recovery, but that the a full recovery can take up to 40 weeks…roughly the same length of time as the average pregnancy. I am already four weeks through those most important weeks and, if you’re a new mother who happens to be sitting down while she reads this, chances are that you are at least ten days post partum. If you’re less than that, I hope you’ve got a donut ring or at least a very soft pillow on your chair.

Here is a list and brief descriptions of common conditions from the first six weeks of the post partum phase. Some of these symptoms will have disappeared a few days after birth; others will persist for an entire month or longer. These are some of the topics I’ll be researching over the next weeks, so if you experienced anything not on the list or found a way to bring yourself relief or comfort, be sure to let me know and I’ll update the list to include your information.

A miscellany of post partum discomforts:

Abdominal Amnesia – NOTE: I am not sure what else to call this condition. It’s the sensation, or rather lack of sensation, when you try to do a post-delivery exercise and feel nothing where the muscles in and around your stomach should be.

Acid indigestion – My stomach acid was so bad for the last three months of pregnancy that I had to sleep propped up on five pillows. Now that I’ve delivered the problem is much improved, but I still need a dose of Tums or Rennies calcium carbonate tablets four of five nights a week.

Anemia – Low iron due to blood loss. If you’re craving spinach, steak, eggs or other iron-rich foods, there’s probably a reason to eat them.

Back, hip or pelvic joint aches and pains – Some of the ligaments that relax, enabling you to give birth, take longer to recover than others. After my first child was born, my hips hurt for almost a year before things tightened up again.

Big, huge breasts – Just one of the joys of making milk is an increased bust size. For me, though, it means going from busty to freakishly busty. If your swollen breasts are hard, painful, or red, it’s time to get checked out for mastitis or “milk fever.”

Blood loss – If you feel dizzy, weak or have a constant head ache during the weeks after birth, get your blood pressure and iron levels checked at the doctor. You could be suffering the effects of excessive blood loss.

Constipation – Few things make a new mother more nervous than the first number 2 after birth and yet, the sooner you get it out, the faster you’ll recover. Remember, if you can push out a 7-pound baby, you can push out a…well, you know.

Depression- Ranges from the baby blues to being able to weep in response to anything and everything to feeling like your world is going to come crashing down. This is one of the most serious and talked about issues of the post partum period.

Episiotomy – Stitches where you may have been cut to help the baby out through the last part.

Excessive sweating – The good news is that some of the extra weight you’ve put on over the past 40 weeks is just water. And it is probably coming out through your pores at a fantastic rate over the first 3 to 4 weeks after giving birth. In addition to nursing, sweating is another reason to keep bottles of water always within arm’s reach.

Exhaustion – Comes with the territory, but can be managed (or so I have heard).

Fainting – Related to blood loss, anemia or exhaustion.

Guilt – Can be triggered by almost everything.

Headaches – Common causes are related to blood loss, anemia, exhaustion, dehydration or stress.

Hemorrhoids – This swelling of the rectal tissue due to excess strain can be painful, itchy, burning and just plain uncomfortable.

Irritating spouse – Best not to get me started on this topic, but feel free to rant about your own in the comments section.

Milk fever – An infection caused by blocked milk ducts.

Milk over production

Milk under production

Painful Urination – For the first 7 to 10 days after birth, peeing is like pouring hot acid over a fresh wound. Dilute that hot acid by squirting or pouring water over your sore perineum as you urinate.

Skin rash – Caused by excessive sweating.

Sore perineum – How could it not be sore after what it has been through?

Stretch marks – I now have new stretch marks running through and on top of my old stretch marks.

Tearing – Nature’s episiotomy

Uncomfortable feminine protection – Having to wear pads for 6 weeks can get pretty irritating. I find I am no longer looking for the most absorbent product as much as I am for the softest.

Varicose veins – Treatments ranging from support hose to massage to surgery.

Weight gain – Let’s just subscribe to the conventional wisdom now: Nine months to put it on, nine to take it off. We have lots of time to deal with this issue in a mature, healthy way.

What has caused you the greatest discomfort following the birth of your child or children?

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