10 min read
If you just had a baby, let us congratulate you on growing a human being inside your body for forty weeks! It’s an incredible feat, and absolutely normal to see changes from head to toe.
In the short term (6 weeks post-partum), there are many temporary aches and pains to deal with as your body begins to settle back into its pre-pregnancy state.
Postpartum health often goes like this: “it takes nine months to make changes and nine months to reverse them.” We’ve all heard it before. After the initial six weeks’ postpartum healing period, you’re left with a body that is familiar but not quite the way it was before. We’re here to tell you that some of these changes may be around to stay.
In collaboration with obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Edmund Hon 韓慶璋醫生, Healthy Matters brings you Hong Kong’s authoritative guide to Post-Partum Changes.
Breastfeeding is a real challenge for many new mothers. Luckily in Hong Kong, there are many private midwives and lactation consultants available to help. Most private hospitals will have a midwife trained in lactation on-staff and private lactation consultants are available for in-house visits. In the public system, Queen Elizabeth Hospital is the first hospital in the city to have a lactation specialist on-staff. If you aim to breastfeed, make sure to enquire about lactation resources at one of your prenatal visits.
Bringing a new baby home is a monumental life event. Many new mothers expect to feel complete bliss, punctuated by the occasional dirty diaper, but instead feel moody, overwhelmed and exhausted. Babysitting is a full-time (as in 24 hours, not 8 hours!) job with no “off” switch. Babies don’t come with a manual and mothers often feel isolated and alone. The tasks required to take care of a baby are simple but relentless and can leave a completely exhausted new mother doubting their abilities.
It is important for all new mothers to prioritize their mental health. For most women, that means finding support, either by themselves or with their baby:
Between days 3 to 5 post-partum, it is normal for new mothers to feel anxious, tearful and upset as post-pregnancy hormones start to settle.
We will discuss postnatal mental health at length in a future article, but in the meantime, please consult your OBGYN, GP, the Hong Kong Family Health Service or NHS Choices if you have questions or concerns about postnatal mental health.
It’s important to remember that your body has carried a baby for nine months and there are a lot of changes that happen in the first six weeks after giving birth. Understanding and being prepared for the changes will help relieve a lot of the symptoms. In a period in life where so many things are upended, it goes a long way to take control of symptoms where you can.
By now, you will have experienced the highs and lows of parenthood. Some days feel like you’re completely on top of this motherhood gig and other days, teething/sickness/a sleepless night hits and all of a sudden, everything you knew about this little bundle of joy goes out the window and you feel like you’ll never get a hang of being a parent.
Everyone needs support of one kind or another. Your support system can be made up of other parents with a baby of a similar age, someone who can watch your baby, and/or a partner who shares the load.
Knowing when you need a bit of extra support is key to taking charge of your mental health. In our book, The Hong Kong Maternity and Baby Book, psychologist Dr. Quratulain Zaidi describes the difference between baby blues and postpartum depression. With the baby blues you may feel emotionally fragile, anxious and overwhelmed but it only lasts for a few days and should be gone by two weeks postpartum. Postpartum depression is longer term and onset is anytime in the first year. Symptoms may include unexplained sadness, insomnia, feelings of worthlessness, disinterest in your baby, anxiousness, and a feeling of a loss of control. If you begin to feel like this, it’s important to contact your obstetrician, GP, or a psychologist as soon as possible. Early intervention is key to both you and your family’s well-being.
Additional information can be found through your doctor, the Hong Kong Family Health Service or NHS Choices.
After all new parents go through in the first year, it’s a hard pill to swallow that having a baby will affect your appearance as well as physical, mental, and sexual health. It’s important to give yourself time to heal, discover what being a parent means to you and get to know your baby. Keep an eye on yourself and arm yourself with the resources you need.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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