Postpartum: the pros who can help us

My mood is playing yo-yo

Why ? In the month following baby’s birth, hormones are still in full swing. And by the time everything returns to normal, it can impact our morale. We are irritable, sensitive… Suddenly, we laugh, suddenly, we cry… It’s the famous baby blues. This state is temporary, once the hormones are stable, everything will return to order.

What solutions?

We talk about it to our spouse, our friends, our doctor… In short, we are not alone in the face of our anxieties, our stress, etc. And in addition, you can find paramedical solutions to gently rebalance your mood. “For example, a naturopath can advise us on essential oils or aromatherapy adapted to each one, depending on whether the mother is breastfeeding or not”, specifies Audrey Ndjave.

I’m exhausted

Why ? Giving birth requires as much energy as running a marathon! Even though we experience pain in a different way, it is a super physical ordeal that is traumatic for the body. All the more so, if the delivery was difficult, if the dilation of the cervix or the descent of the baby were long, that the moment of the push was trying … All this means that we can take more time to to recover.

What solutions?

In the month following childbirth, it may be beneficial to consult an osteopath to gently rebalance your body and regain energy. This consultation also makes it possible to identify and remove blockages linked to poor posture during pregnancy or childbirth (displaced pelvis, etc.) and which can cause pain and fatigue.

I struggle with breastfeeding

Why? Even if we are super motivated and breastfeeding is physiological, it is not necessarily easy. Especially when it comes to our first baby. There are some things to know that will help reassure us that the situation is usual or not. For example, a newborn baby will suck very often at first, sometimes even every hour! But if you don’t know, it’s normal to worry and wonder if you’re getting enough milk.

What solutions?

“To anticipate this start, it is quite possible to prepare for pregnancy with your midwife, a nursery nurse or a lactation consultant,” specifies Audrey Ndjave, who will show how to position her baby at the breast and give lots of information. to promote the establishment of lactation. »And if when the time comes, we have concerns, if we feel pain (breastfeeding shouldn’t hurt), if we see that our baby is uncomfortable when he is breastfeeding, etc., it is important to be able to consult a trained professional. to breastfeeding to accompany us. Because the solutions exist.

I no longer have a libido

Why ? Perhaps already during pregnancy the libido was at its lowest. It can continue or also happen after childbirth. “There are many reasons for this: the mother is focused on her baby, her body has changed and she may feel less desirable, she does not feel any desire for the moment… And then, the pains of the episiotomy or the cesarean section. ‘don’t make things right,’ explains Audrey Ndjave.

What solutions?

In general, we recommend that you wait about 6 to 7 weeks after childbirth to resume sex, until the organs are back in place and the woman feels ready in her head. But each couple has a different tempo and there is nothing to worry about if intercourse does not resume within these deadlines. In any case, it is important to talk about it with your partner and to take time alone to maintain the bond. And we do not skip the rehabilitation of the perineum with a physiotherapist or a midwife. “A traumatic childbirth can also break the libido,” adds Audrey Ndjave. In this case, a sex therapist specializing in perinatal care can help put words to the problem and suggest exercises to do as a couple to regain confidence in your body and revive your libido. “

I feel burnt out

Why ? When we are expecting a baby, we project ourselves on the afterbirth and sometimes, what we had imagined does not necessarily stick to reality. You may feel overwhelmed or not well in this new life as a mom. And for good reason, “motherhood is the transformation of a woman who becomes a mother. It is a psychic transition and a whole hormonal process starts. All women know this upheaval, but each experiences it differently. Depending on its history, ”explains Audrey Ndjave.

What solutions?

“To overcome this post-partum wave, it is important for mothers to be able to talk about it with a shrink specializing in perinatal care who will help her understand the issues raised by motherhood. And support her so that she is calm in what she is going through, by normalizing this process, ”she advises.

I can’t stand my body anymore

Why ? After childbirth, the body is transformed. Even if we did not gain a lot of pounds during pregnancy, curves persist for several weeks or months afterwards. It is often said that the body takes 9 months, the time of a pregnancy, to regain its shape before. Sometimes, too, you have to come to terms with the fact that your body will not be quite the same. But when we don’t like the image we see in the mirror, it can be hard to bear.

What solutions?

To reconnect with your new body, you can (re) start sport, once you have re-educated your perineum. But from motherhood, the midwife can advise small exercises to facilitate the ascent of the organs and strengthen the perineum, such as false chest inspirations. A nutritionist can also help us rebalance our diet and avoid gaining weight. Without embarking on a diet, especially if you are breastfeeding, because you need balanced meals to be in good physical and mental shape.