Struggles Encountered by Women Post-Childbirth: Divine Matriarchs and Their Experiences with Postnatal Complications
In today's world, men are providing support and assistance to women, allowing them to pursue their passions and aspirations with freedom. This support is crucial, as new mothers often face a range of physical and mental health challenges postpartum.
Physical Challenges
Postpartum recovery can be a challenging journey, with common physical symptoms including vaginal pain, breast tenderness, urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and ongoing weight control difficulties. These symptoms may persist for six months or longer after delivery and may require medical or physical therapy intervention, such as pelvic-floor physical therapy.
The uterus starts to contract each day after giving birth and should decrease by around a finger width every day, taking six weeks to regain its pre-pregnancy size. However, the perineum, the skin between the vagina and rectum, may swell or tear during childbirth and may take up to three weeks to recover. Other common postpartum symptoms include postpartum chills, hair loss, and lack of bladder control.
For women with pre-existing diabetes or gestational diabetes, blood glucose levels may change unexpectedly after birth, and it is important to follow the doctor's recommendations for diet and medication to control blood sugar levels and check blood sugar levels frequently.
Mental Health Issues
Postpartum mental health issues encompass a spectrum, from the common baby blues affecting up to 80% of new mothers to more severe conditions.
- Postpartum Depression (PPD): Characterized by depressed mood, tearfulness, loss of interest, guilt, fatigue, sleep disturbances, concentration problems, and sometimes suicidal thoughts, PPD typically emerges within the first two to three months after birth but can appear later. PPD is similar to depression at other times but includes anxiety symptoms and in some cases obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) with intrusive thoughts about the infant.
- Postpartum Anxiety: Occurs in about 17% of postpartum women, often together with depression. Anxiety symptoms may include generalized anxiety and panic attacks.
- Postpartum Rage: Marked by pervasive anger, irritability, and frustration without specific triggers, often linked to depression or anxiety and usually occurring in the first year after birth.
- Postpartum Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Involves intrusive thoughts and compulsive behaviors (e.g., repeatedly checking on the baby’s safety), affecting 3–5% of new mothers.
- Postpartum Psychosis: A rare but severe condition appearing in 1 to 2 per 1,000 women, involving a break from reality and requiring emergency treatment due to risks including suicide and infanticide.
Risk factors for postpartum mental health issues include a personal or family history of mood disorders, previous episodes of postpartum depression, low socioeconomic status, lack of social support, and significant life stress.
These physical and mental health challenges can overlap and significantly affect postpartum recovery and well-being, highlighting the importance of monitoring, support, and appropriate medical and psychological care. It is essential for new mothers to discuss postpartum care with their healthcare practitioner and to get in touch with their doctor in the first three weeks after delivery for a thorough postpartum assessment. A follow-up appointment should be scheduled no later than 12 weeks after birth.
[1] Pelvic-floor physical therapy for postpartum recovery. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/labor-and-delivery/in-depth/pelvic-floor-physical-therapy/art-20045347
[2] Postpartum care: What to expect. (2020, October 28). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/postpartum-care/art-20046124
[3] Postpartum depression. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20353066
[4] Postpartum anxiety. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/postpartum-anxiety/symptoms-causes/syc-20353076
[5] Postpartum mental health. (2020, October 28). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/pregnancy-week-by-week/in-depth/postpartum-care/art-20046124
Science plays a vital role in addressing the physical and mental challenges women face during their postpartum recovery. For instance, pelvic-floor physical therapy, a strategy grounded in science, can help alleviate symptoms such as vaginal pain and urinary incontinence. On the mental health front, understanding postpartum depression, anxiety, and other disorders requires a comprehensive approach, integrating research in health-and-wellness and mental-health to develop effective treatments and support systems for new mothers.
