Postpartum
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Postpartum

In honor of Maternal Mental Health in May, let’s look more closely at postpartum anxiety, panic, and obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). Postpartum anxiety, panic and OCD are part of a broader classification of postpartum mood disorders, which also includes postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis.  Postpartum anxiety disorders are very common in women, often occurring immediately or within 4-6 weeks after giving birth. Postpartum anxiety is characterized by fearful and distressing thoughts or feelings after the birth of the baby.

New mothers sometimes forget… since it took 9 months for your body to grow and develop a baby, it can also take months to feel “normal” again after giving birth. If you’re breastfeeding, you may not feel “back to normal” until after you’ve weaned. Many women never look and feel the same after giving birth. And, truly, why should we? A woman has grown, nurtured, and given birth to another person from her own body. As a result of this physiological process, some bodily changes will be temporary, others permanent. We encourage new mothers to embrace this reality and accept it as a loving initiation into motherhood.

25% of American women stop breastfeeding by 6 months because of nipple pain.² You might be wondering what to expect the first few weeks of breastfeeding your newborn. For mothers who’ve already breastfed a baby, you may not experience much nipple tenderness. But, for first time mothers, nipple pain can cause quite a bit of discomfort the first weeks.

Chronic pelvic pain and incontinence (leaking urine or feces) are not acceptable, long term conditions after childbirth.

What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Childbirth?

As women, we’ve all heard it many times, that leaking pee (urinary incontinence) is the way it is - forever - after childbirth. While urinary incontinence and pelvic discomfort can occur during pregnancy and in the immediate postpartum period, usually because of weight, posture, and hormonal changes, it’s an unacceptable outcome to suffer with chronic urinary incontinence for years and decades after pregnancy and childbirth.  

The postpartum period can be challenging for new moms.  Between the shifts in hormone levels, vaginal bleeding, and the newness  of caring for your newborn, it can be overwhelming.  Don’t neglect your own health and wellbeing. It’s so important that you prioritize your health as a new mom.   Here are 6 postpartum health tips that will get your new journey off on the right foot.

If you’re planning on breastfeeding, it’s important to understand the direct link between your baby’s health and your diet.  Just like during pregnancy, what you consume will be passed on to your baby.  Many new moms are aware of this, but aren’t sure what foods to avoid while they're breastfeeding.  This article will help you understand what foods could be a risk to your baby. 

Effective, frequent nursing speeds the recovery of clogged milk ducts and mastitis. The antibacterial qualities of breastmilk prevent the baby from getting an infection related to an inflamed or infected breast. The first week of August is World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA) week, which brings awareness to the protection, support and benefits of breastfeeding. In honor of this agenda, it’s  important to dig into the challenges of breastfeeding, specifically mastitis. Mastitis is one of the most common problems related to breastfeeding. It usually begins with a clogged milk duct that leads to inflammation of the breast tissue and sometimes an infection of the breast.

Big changes are made one degree at a time, through small choices every day. Over time, these small changes lead to a 180 degree turn-around. This year, Mother’s Day kicks off a spotlight week on Women’s Health issues. For many women, stress management is a high priority on this list because it’s often an underlying factor in the development of physical and mental health conditions that affect women’s health.