The Childbirth Recovery Mandate
October 15, 2007 by kate baggott
Filed under Labor & Delivery, Mental Health
I’ve been having a lot more fun blogging lately. It’s more fun to write about the cute or naughty things my kids do and the entertaining or confused way I respond than it is to explain medical studies about reproductive health, new sociological studies about mothers’ lives or try and put my own birth and pregnancy experiences into a larger context that might apply to everyone. Participating in the occasional group writing project or getting involved in a contest like Blogtoberfest, often helps me forget what this blog is supposed to be about: The first phase of new motherhood is not about learning how to take care of a baby. Most of that actually comes naturally. It’s the recovery from childbirth.
The female body is capable of amazing feats of recovery. That said, we could use some help, some knowledge, some inspiration to get us thinking about what else we could be doing to get our bodies back together after the trials of pregnancy and childbirth.
I think there are some key posts I have written to get women thinking about their own health after giving birth. The posts women read while they’re still pregnant are probably the most helpful. That said, even the typical discomforts after a vaginal birth and after a c-section are highly individual. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for mothers to help each other out. If you are preparing to give birth or have just given birth and have questions, the readers of this blog are here to help you out. Ask us anything. What I haven’t experienced, I’ll research for you.
This post has been brought to you by Blogtoberfest, leave a comment by 11:59 PM on Friday, 19 October 2007 to be entered to win the secret prize. To enter at the other blogs posting Blogtoberfest-contests today, look for the logo and keep your eyes on Career and Kids, Inside Fatherhood, Marriage Actually, Psycho for Love, Solo Mother, Widows Quest and Tree Hugging Family.
Good points Katie. Childbirth and recovery is interesting. I had two c-sections and believe recovering from them, I am still doing it after 2 1/2 years after last c-section. Being women and having to go through all what we do just to become mothers, wow do we deserve alot of credit.
Good blog.
I sure could have used some recovery tips after the birth of my first which left me with a 4th degree tear and broken tail bone.
Thanks for the tips!!
Asking for sufficient help post-partum is something new mothers aren’t very good at doing, especially when they don’t want to end up looking like an “incompetent” mother.
I wish that I had known about your blog when I was recovering from my C-Section last year. Such helpful info and great points!
I had no idea how hard recovery would be after my first was born. The second was much better and I think it has something to do with the fact that I knew what to expect. Thanks for the helpful information!
I believe that is something most women don’t talk about. Sure they will tell you about their birth stories but never the recovery period. I don’t think I have ever heard any of those kinds of stories.
I had a c-section as well. This is a great read. Thank you!
It’s not stuff I need to know right now, but I did e-mail a couple of the links to a friend who’s pregnant.
I wish they covered more of this in doctor’s visits, etc. I had no idea what a physical nightmare it woulkd be those first 2 weeks with no sleep and so much pain plus so many new demands. The classes make it sound like labor & delivery is the finish line when it really isn’t!
Hi Kate,
I’m going to pass this blog on to my daughter. She might find it helpful since my new grandaughter is now less than a month old.
Erin
I wish I had known more about the risks of induction. I had a terrible experience, labored for 14 hours and still ended up with a c section. Fortunately my boy is healthy. Recovering from major abdominal surgery, childbirth, and adjusting to being a new mom was so difficult and if it wasn’t for my husband around for that first week I don’t know how I would have done it. While medicine has increased survival rates for moms and babies, it also focuses away from the fact that our bodies for the most part are meant to do this.
Well, I could write a book….oh wait, I DID! Anyway, the one thing that I find the most important about recovery — women talk about “getting back to normal.” The thing is *this* is the new normal. Like all other aspects of life, you never go/get back. You always move forwards.