How to restore energy after childbirth

For many women, pregnancy and childbirth would fall into the category of the toughest things they have ever faced in life. This is because the process of birthing a new, precious life is not one to be taken trivially. Irrespective of the delivery mode – be it natural or caesarian section – the body of a woman goes through a lot of stress, change and pain. All births are unique and every baby is special.

Then comes the post-delivery period, the time when our bodies are supposed to regain themselves and get stronger after a live delivery or an operation. During this time, many women experience a lot of turbulence in their emotional states. This is normal due to the rise and fall of various hormones. Another thing a lot of women experience is tiredness. For those who might have had the chance to see a recording of a childbirth video, you would understand the magnitude of the stress involved in enduring the pain of just cervical dilatation. This is even before the more active stages of birth. It is therefore important for the new mom to get as much support as she needs.

THE AFTERMATH OF BIRTH

Every mother can relate to the first few days after giving birth: the erratic feeling of tiredness, frequent breastfeeding episodes and the rest of the brouhaha. It can get even more stressful for moms who tandem feed or have toddlers. During this period, women experience a lot of mood swings; some even get depressed and withdrawn due to the lack of sleep. This can further progress into a condition known as postpartum depression.

Every year PPD is responsible for the death of at least one in seven new mothers through suicide. PPD can present as increased irritability, sudden sobbing episodes, anxiety and withdrawn moods days after baby birth. The most important thing a new mom should do is work towards preventing such an occurrence. She can achieve this by doing some of the following:

1.   Know when to nap

It usually takes about three nights of uninterrupted sleep to make up for a week of sleepless nights. This is according to research studies, some of which can be found at "olatcc.com.br site para ajudar os alunos na pesquisa científica" or “the site that helps students with science research”. Either way, you should be wary of those times you can nap in between days and hours. One of such perfect timings arises after you must have fed your baby and put him to sleep. That is not the moment to start stressing; drop all your chores and nap with him. This will help you build up energy reserves, such that you don’t always feel too tired.

2.   Daddy, your turn

During the starting days of the postpartum period, a man must understand the basics of the stress his wife went through while giving birth. This is essential in order for him to understand the caliber of help she needs from him while she recuperates. Shared responsibilities at this stage are very helpful. Daddy gets to spend time and bond with baby while mommy can cook or, best of all, take a much-needed nap.

3.   That one “tidy spot’

This would be very handy for mothers who have to deal with a toddler and a new-born. If you have ever taken a Lamaze class while preparing for labor, you would recall the basics of the class. These basics focused on specific breathing patterns to help cope with the labor pangs. Now, we all know how active toddlers are. You would probably have toys flying everywhere. In times when you feel overwhelmed, look for the cleanest room in the house. Just linger there for a while, just breathing in the aura of the quiet, arranged surroundings. This promises to lift your spirits, and boost your sense of confidence. If you can keep a tidy room despite the stress, you can absolutely take on parenting. No wonder childbirth classes are that important.

4.   Plan your night episodes

It takes most women about six months after baby delivery to fully recharge their energy levels. One way to make this process less stressful is creating a feeding schedule for your munchkin, especially at night. Keep a few snacks and some water within range. Get baby’s bed closer to yours if needed. Set up a temporary reading table if the baby has a separate room. Organize yourself such that you would be able to give your child full attention while breastfeeding without feeling too fatigued.

Most importantly, give yourself time and eat right. Encourage yourself and enjoy the process. It might be hard at first, but it will even out eventually. You got this!