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Beyond the Bump: A Realistic Look at Life After Pregnancy
Bringing your little bundle of joy into the world is an amazing experience. As a mum, you are on cloud nine, entirely absorbed with your precious baby. But once the initial euphoria fades, you may feel overwhelmed when you start to comprehend that there is actually “life ” after giving birth. This new chapter comes with its unique challenges and joys. Here’s what to expect beyond the bump!
The Emotional Rollercoaster
After giving birth, one in every seven women experiences depression, known as postpartum depression (PPD). It is okay to feel a range of emotions, from loneliness, anxiety to joy in the early days of motherhood. If you believe that something doesn’t feel right or your feelings border on persistent sadness, lack of appetite, loss of interest therein joy-giving activities, or lack of necessary connection with your baby, seek professional support.
The Exhaustion
Many respected websites suggest parents get the recommended eight hours of sleep every day, but sometimes that recommendation feels more like a cruel joke. For the first couple of weeks or even months, you are awake nonstop managing feeds in the middle of the night and soundly run by your baby’s sleeping schedule. You may experience fatigue but remember it’s part of adjusting to life with a baby, and it will get better.
Your Body and Healing
Whether you give birth vaginally or through a cesarean section{(C-section)},resuming “normal”activities can feel difficult. Do not push yourself straightaway to get back to a rigorous workout schedule or attempt to fit into your pre-pregnancy garments. Your body requires much-needed recuperation time to recover before that. So, be gentler to yourself and listen to your body to avoid pushing yourself beyond your capacities.
Becoming a Parent takes time- be Gentle
Asking for help is categorically not a weakness; on the flip side, it’s a sign of strength. Reaching out to friends or family to watch your child for a dozen hours or asking for support in cleaning up the mess when you’re not feeling up to it isn’t failure. Giving time to yourself is essential to face the life changes that’ll lie ahead in the upcoming decades. Remember- parenting takes a lifetime to master.
The Bottom line
Congratulations! you’ve joined the club of being a parent. While it’s a challenging and rewarding journey, there’s going to be a profusion of ups and downs. Give yourself leverage and traverse towards parenting in joy and with gratitude towards taking charge of another one, which is wholeheartedly dependent on you. A new baby, a new life – nobody ever said it could be seamless – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it. Enjoy the journey, and take it one day at a time.
