After childbirth

Sleepless nights!

Too much responsibilities and too little physical strength!

Life that whirls ONLY around your child!

Joy, happiness, boredom, paranoia!

Post-partum depression!

Welcome to motherhood.

As a child, I learnt that mother is a candle who melts to keep the light glowing. Now as a new-born’s mother I feel it is true.

Motherhood is the hardest journey any women can experience. Just recovering from labour, a women is often not given any time to recover or rest and expected  to be the perfect mother for her child, immediately right after labor. This can be very stressful. Especially on First-time Mom’s who have no clue or experience to care for a newborn.  As new mother, women are bound to have a bit of crankiness, if not post-partum depression.  Playing with thoughts of harming oneself or the child, can occur and it is normal as long as one resumes her sanity in minutes. But, the journey of motherhood cannot be enjoyed, if you as a mother do not take care of yourself. Your child grows each day and the first two years is the best period they say. For you, as a mother to enjoy your child, it is vital that you stay healthy and emotionally stable. I recommend Mothers of newborn child to arrange and practice the following suggestions, for it can be of great support, during your recovery and parenthood.

1.       Arrange for post-partum support, for a minimum of 40 days but if possible upto 3 months. It could be your mothers house, In-laws or a paid caretaker. Outsource as much as household work like cooking, cleaning the house, doing the utensils, shopping or other administrative tasks. First month, is for you to make-up for the lost calcium, muscle strength, energy and health during labour. So allow first month, for just to care for your new born and  to take basic care for yourself.

2.       Do not miss on your calcium and iron supplements post pregnancy. It important, that your regain your previous health.

3.       Do the exercises advised for your recovery, in the little time available to you. Exercise not just for cosmetic toning but more so, for regaining your bone and muscle strength.

4.       Have the father of new-born, go through counseling before your labor. The father needs to be advised that  a new mother is cranky not because she has changed or that you have marital problems, but she is under tremendous stress and very  little physical strength.

5.       New mothers need to know that newborns cry for various reasons (Which I will cover In the next post). Do your best but if it is not consoling your baby, don’t loose your cool. Continue to be patient, firm and reassuring. The Crying comes in phases of time and it will stop. It is a great test of patience, so don’t get frustrated and loose your cool. Whatever the stress, Smile at your baby and talk in a calm reassuring voice. Most of all DO NOT LOOSE YOUR HAPPY STATE OF MIND. Your happiness matters, both for you and your Child.

6.       Once in a day, take a short-break to be just by yourself. Give your newborn in care of your partner or extended family say for 30 minutes or an hour and do something that can help your connect to your inner self. This will help in balancing  your emotional sanity.

7.       We as women have looked for love from people all along. Now, here your new born who is  doing just that.  Looking right into your eyes, with all their love and hope in you. It is too long a attention that is demanded of you. But, in this phase of growing up, you are their love, inspiration, home and world indeed.  So, whatever be the demand, just hit the pause button of your life’s other happenings. Take care of your partner and new born. That’s natures responsibility on womenhood and doing it full time for couple of months will give you a new perspective towards your life.