No one poked me.
No one prodded.
No one checked my stitches, my healing, or my sanity until eight weeks postpartum.
And even then, it was a pat on the back and I was sent on my way.
Our world forgets about mothers.
We slip through the cracks.
We become background noise.
And in that, we learn our role… our place in our family unit… to always come last.
Folks, we can’t put mothers last.
Our babies need us.
To be healthy.
To know that we are worthy.
To know that Motherhood, while natural, can sometimes feel like the least natural role in our life.
And that deserves attention.
Mothers deserve attention.
We need our world to fuss over us the way they fuss over ten fresh fingers and ten fresh toes.
We need to be seen.
We need to be heard.
We need someone to not only ask if we’re okay but to check time and time again, just to be sure.
We’re not just a uterus.
We’re not just a lifeline to a new and precious soul.
We’re mothers.
“We slip through the cracks.” Could that be any more true? I had not really thought about it, since my postpartum experiences were so long ago (my youngest is almost eight), but in the case of my second and third child it’s totally true. My health seemed to be an afterthought.
I don’t think our health care standards in America are going to change anytime soon, so if you’re a new mom or about to give birth, it’s important that you and your partner advocate for your own postpartum care. Start in the hospital, and don’t be afraid to get on the phone or into the office with your doctor after your discharge. Your body goes through some craaazy stuff giving birth, and your physical and mental health matter just as much as your baby’s health does! After all, you can’t take care of your kiddo if you’re not healthy, too!
Thanks to Anneliese Lawton for reminding us moms that our health matters.
What kind of postpartum care did you have? Was it enough? Why or why not?
