Giving birth during a pandemic adds additional layers of stress to a woman’s journey to motherhood. It’s especially important that women who give birth during the COVID pandemic prepare for their postpartum recoveries ahead of time, as many will not be able to have in-person support from family and friends due to social distancing and travel restrictions. In addition, this pandemic creates fears and worries for new parents, including concerns about health, finances, and the well-being of loved ones. Pandemic-related stresses and lifestyle changes put new mothers at a higher risk of developing postpartum mental health problems like depression and anxiety.
The following are postpartum recovery tips for women who have recently given birth (or will soon be giving birth)
- Be gentle with yourself and remember that you are in the midst of one of the biggest physical and emotional transitions of your life. Try to view this postpartum period as a time for rest and recovery. Ways you can perform self-care include sleeping when your baby sleeps, getting outside as much as possible, and not putting too high of expectations on yourself in terms of things like productivity, losing weight, and “bouncing back” to your pre-baby life.
- Do not be afraid to reach out to your partner, family, and/or friends to ask for help when you need it and also to let them know if you are struggling. If you have a difficult time asking others for help at baseline, set an expectation of needing postpartum help ahead of time! Also, do not hesitate to ask your OB or midwife questions about your postpartum recovery, especially if you are worried about any changes you are going through or new symptoms you are experiencing.
- Try to learn about and take advantage of online resources for new moms. These include virtual visits for lactation and breastfeeding support, websites to get connected with therapists who specialize in maternal mental health, i.e. Postpartum Support International, online support groups for parents of newborns, and websites that focus on postpartum recovery and the fourth trimester.
It’s important for new moms to remember: you are not alone, you should aim to treat yourself with as much love as you have for your newborn baby, and you can do this, mama!
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Written by Dr. Jessica Madden, Medical Director at Aeroflow Breastpumps, published with permission.
