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What to expect during the first few
weeks after delivery: During the first few weeks after delivery you might feel overwhelmed,
exhausted, scared, sad, tired, happy, thrilled, energized and / or
elated. It is normal to experience a wide variety of feelings almost
simultaneously.
To help you survive the early stages of
motherhood (and recovery from labor) it will be easier for you if you
have the love and support from your friends and family. Now is the time
to allow the people close to you to have the opportunity to care for
you. When people ask you what they can do for you when you have the
baby, encourage them to care take of you, so that you will have the
energy to care for the baby. Your job is to protect and nourish the
baby. Everyone else’s job is to protect and nourish you.
What to ask your friends and family
to do for you:
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To simply be there to listen to you:
Frequently having someone listen and acknowledge your feelings is
helpful.
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Get help around the house: Ask
family and friends to clean your house, prepare your meals, do
laundry, and / or walk the dogs.
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Play with your older child: This
could mean having other children over to entertain your child so
that you can focus your energy on the baby, or depending on your
child’s adjustment to the situation, take him or her out for ‘an
adventure’.
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Change all the infant diapers so
that you can concentrate on feeding her / him.
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Hold the infant while she / he is
sleeping so that you can take a few minutes to focus on yourself.
- Practice with you ways to handle
unwanted advice
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When the infant is sleeping, take
the time to lay down and nap. It may be your only chance to sleep.
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Each afternoon ask all visitors to
leave, and take some family nap times. Remind your friends and
family that your new baby is up every few hours throughout a 24 hour
cycle, and that you need to follow his or her sleep schedule
otherwise you will allow yourself to become worn down. And unlike
tests in school, where you typically are able to take a vacation
afterwards, children are a 24 / 7 hour job, where there is no such
thing as a vacation, particularly during the first few months of
your child’s life. Motherhood is about the long haul. Pushing
yourself too hard in the beginning will only exhaust you and make
you less able to meet the child’s daily needs. The effects of
chronic sleep deprivation have been shown to increase the risk for
of accidents, depression, illness, and relationship difficulties.
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During the labor & delivery and the
immediate weekafterward, you can hire a doula
If
it is just you and the baby:
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If no one is around, and you want
stimulation, take a walk with the baby. Often babies are happier
when they are “out and about.” Babies like grown-ups like mental
stimulation. From a babies perspective, mental stimulation
includes, but is not limited to shopping, taking a walk in the park,
and sitting at and people watching.
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You can call a friend. Acknowledge
your feelings. Tell others about what you are experiencing /
feeling. Do not ignore the problem.
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If you do not have a readily
available support network, you can hire a doula.
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You can call a hotline
(HL).
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Join a support group
(SG). Talking to other
moms about your experiences and hearing similar stories can validate
your own experience, not to mention sometimes provide you with some
wonderful tips and tricks on how to handle a particular situation.
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Read a self help book on prenatal /
postpartum depression.
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And lastly, minimize major life
changes. Life changes can add stress. Having a child for most
people is already stressful enough.
If you are feeling depressed and want
help, you have two major options, talk therapy and / or medication.
Both can be helpful. Talk with your doctor / midwife about whether or
not getting a prescription for medication is appropriate. Make sure you
mention if you are or are not breastfeeding. Untreated depression hurts
both mother and child.
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If you live in the Philadelphia
area, and wish to enroll in a support group or schedule a therapy
session please contact The Center For Growth, Inc. 233 South 6th Street,
Philadelphia PA 19106 and speak with Alex (215) 570 - 8614.
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© by The Center For Growth, Inc.
Reproduction, in whole or in part, without the express written consent
of The Center For Growth, Inc. is strictly prohibited. Violators will be
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