A lot of attention is paid to mothers-to-be before baby’s arrival. There are supplements to take, monthly, then weekly maternity care appointments, blood tests, urine tests, and ultrasounds. However, too many women neglect following through with important care after pregnancy. Postpartum care services are an essential part of the recovery process; new mothers who take advantage of postpartum care services may recover quicker and any potential complication can be caught quickly before they become more serious issues.
A postpartum care clinic in Calgary can help new mothers navigate the sensitive time after birth. During the first few weeks after giving birth, your body is going through a number of changes, while still healing from the delivery; with postpartum care trained nurses and doctors can help monitor physical recovery as well as providing important information. Postpartum care typically begins in the few days following the birth, and extends for several weeks. These services include checking to ensure any stiches are healing correctly, and may address other common physical concerns, such as pelvic floor recovery, proper diet, weight and body changes, and postpartum hair loss. Postpartum nurses can also address concerns with breastfeeding, engorgement, and sore nipples.
Postpartum care services also cover issues that may not apparent from the outside. Fatigue, constipation, and lingering pain are all common issues that can be addressed with proper care, while professionals can continue to monitor and ensure there are no other complications.
In additional to monitoring physical recovery, monitoring mental health following birth is another vital part of postpartum care. As the hormones in our bodies continue to fluctuate and we begin to adjust to motherhood, it is very common to experience stress, anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and sadness.
The “baby blues” is a general feeling of unhappiness that sometimes sets in after birth and lasts for a few weeks. A postpartum nurse can provide advice to help get you through this phase, while monitoring for more severe and persistent symptoms that may be a sign of postpartum depression.
Postpartum depression is distinct from the baby blues. PPD is quite common among new mothers, and is often described by intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed, and a disconnection from those around you. Unlike the blues, which will pass on their own, postpartum depression typically requires treatment. Postpartum care can help identify PPD and support mothers in the getting the help they need.
You can’t pour from an empty cup; postpartum care is the best way to ensure your health, so that you can provide the best care to your new baby.