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The postpartum is an important moment for all women who have had a baby. This is a moment full of doubts and concerns , because in addition to all the changes in the body and hormonal changes, the arrival of a new family member causes changes in the routine , in addition to causing psychological and emotional reactions.
It is not surprising that many women go through a roller coaster of emotions, becoming susceptible to comments, opinions and the events that occur. Even for women who have already had a child and have just had a second, the doubts and concerns remain, as each baby is different from the other, and the challenges can also be totally different.
Although many women are preparing to go through this phase, some of them need the support of family, partner and friends to make the postpartum phase a lighter one. The insecurities and doubts are common and even normal for those who are going through it, and throughout this article we will give tips on how to find support to make this stage a moment more quiet.
What is your support network?
We human beings are social beings and depend on the contact and assistance of others to have a part of our needs met. Nobody lives alone and that is not even healthy, and in a moment as delicate as the puerperium, this need for support grows even more.
Having the family close by is a great help to get through this moment of life. That attention and affection that comes from the mother or grandmother, a sister or brother who comes to help, or an aunt or uncle who provide support, are fundamental for the new mother.
Not only the family, but also the friends are fundamental pieces. Especially for those women who do not have a family living nearby, friends end up becoming the family they have and all support at that moment is very welcome.
Even so, as much as there is a support network that is present, women can often feel alone when going through the puerperium. Even for women who have always wanted to be mothers, the difficulties come and the challenges become intense, because now a new life depends on it.
There are many events at the same time and many concerns to be taken into account, and the woman can often feel with great intensity all the weight that motherhood carries with her.
With the arrival of a baby, the routine of the home and of the parents’ lives will be transformed, and even household chores are left aside. This can end up overwhelming the new mom who, in addition to having to take care of her newborn child, has concerns about washing dishes, washing clothes, cleaning the house… The presence and support of the father at this moment are essential for these tasks to be done . In addition, friends and family are also essential supports so that the mother can dedicate more time to baby care.
It is important that everyone is aware that, more than ever, women need support and even these simpler tasks become a challenge when there is a baby at home. The new mother becomes an invisible caregiver, as it is often inevitable that visits will end up placing most of the attention on the baby alone. So it is important to remember that there is not only a new baby in the house, there is also a new woman , who has just become a mother and is facing many challenges as a result.
And not only help with homework is important. The ability to listen is also a very welcome attitude. Often, all the mother needs is a hug, or to be heard. Gestures of affection and empathy are fundamental to provide the mother with the feeling that she has support and that she is not alone.
Most women who become mothers had a completely different routine than before the baby arrived. Some worked 8 hours a day, went to the gym, went to the mall every weekend or to the beauty salon, among other activities. At least for a while, all of these activities are left on stand by, as all the energy goes to baby care.
Thus, the puerperium is an intense and abrupt dedication to many activities that were not common before, and often mothers just want to have someone to talk about how much they are worn out or scared by the routine, and the support network is essential. to fill that need.
What does it mean to have a support network?
A support network will facilitate the mother-baby relationship, helping with what the mother needs during the puerperium. It means being available and being part of the support that the mother needs.
No child comes with an instruction manual – fortunately or unfortunately! And so, all women are subject to mistakes and successes during motherhood, and this is completely normal. The support network will provide the necessary support to the mother so that she can trace her own path in raising her child, taking into account her own limits and possibilities.
Just as the newborn needs care, so does the mother. As the mother dedicates herself 24 hours to the baby that has just arrived, her care is in the background and that is where the support network comes in to make this care possible, providing the necessary support during the puerperium.
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
