Postpartum Care -- Look After Yourself As Well As Your Baby

Postpartum care is all about looking after yourself in the few weeks after the birth of your baby. If you're feeling relaxed and happy, chances are everyone in the family will be too. The postpartum can be difficult for some mums as their body recovers from the stresses of labour. So don't worry if the house isn't perfect or the dishes don't get done and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Remember Superwoman is a myth!

Postpartum is the period of about six weeks from the time of birth until your body makes the adjustments it needs to return to normal. There are a few things that can go wrong and if you're aware of these you'll be prepared and they won't seem so frightening.

Postpartum hemorrhage ~ This may happen straight after the birth, but sometimes up to several hours later. There is a significant loss of blood which can be serious and needs instant treatment. Fortunately postpartum hemorrhage is rare, affecting under 20% of all births. Some blood loss is quite normal during this period and is nothing to be concerned about.

Postpartum preeclampsia ~ Although this is mainly a symptom of pregnancy, preeclampsia can happen after giving birth as well. Preeclampsia symptoms are high blood pressure and excess protein in the urine. The signs that you may have this condition are recurring headaches and/or blurred vision. Preeclampsia is serious if untreated. Fortunately it can be successfully treated if caught in time.

Postpartum depression ~ This is a very common complaint and can vary from mild to extreme. It's mainly caused by hormonal changes in your body. A feeling of loss of identity may also cause you to feel depressed.

What are the postpartum depression signs? Well you may be feeling overwhelmed, sad, excessively tired, uninterested and above all, guilty that you're feeling this way, Because, after all, this should be a happy time, shouldn't it?

Just be assured that you are perfectly normal and that thousands of women are going through this phase and have been since the dawn of time.

Understand that your body has been through a tremendous amount of stress and that it will take some time to recover. Giving birth poses both physical and psychological changes both at the same time. You may also be feeling excluded when family and friends are making a fuss of your baby and you're no longer the main attrraction. This feeling of loss of identity is quite normal and you're just being human.

You also have the huge responsibility of caring for a newborn while dealing with sleep deprivation at the same time. No wonder your feeling exhausted, scared and anxious. This is perfectly normal and will probably last for a week or two. If it persisits or gets worse, you may have to visit your doctor.

Although postpartum depression is a form of depression, it has a clinical cause so be wary of prescribed depression drugs. These have a low success rate and are totally unsuitable if you're breastfeeding. I'll leave you with one important natural way of handling postpartum depression.

Take Omega 3 supplements. Omega 3 is also found in fish, but with all the mercury contamination in some fish, supplements are the safest way to go. Omega 3 is a great way to boost your mood and is good for your and your baby's health as well.