This article examines the clinical practices of U.S. homebirth midwives and their clients from the beginning of pregnancy through to the immediate postpartum period. The six themes identified include organized support, rest period and restricted activities, diet, hygiene practices, infant care, breastfeeding, and other postpartum rituals. These practices are connected to the postpartum period and have either a positive or negative effect on maternal mental health.
Ritual plays a role in constructing homebirth as a “transgressive rite of passage” through which they can “peel away the fictions of medicalized birthing”. Most cultures have rituals connected to the postpartum period, with a postnatal period of approximately 40 days being universal.
Rituals for emotional recovery and reuniting with their bodies during the postpartum period are also important. For example, the rebozo ritual, inspired by the rebozo ritual, helps the new mother regain her strength and health. Rituals of the immediate postpartum period at home transmit the message that the mother’s body is well equipped to meet the needs of the newborn.
Postpartum health is in crisis in the United States, with rising pregnancy-related mortality and worsening racial inequities. Humans created a midwife role, usually performed by female kin, to assist mothers during birth and afterwards until she regains her energy. This role has been a significant part of the cultural understanding of postpartum care and its impact on maternal mental health.
📹 This is Your Postpartum In 2 Minutes | Glamour
Learn more about the science behind postpartum depression. Whether it’s vaginal soreness from labor, nighttime hot flashes in …
What to do during postpartum period?
Follow your doctor’s orders, get enough rest, accept help from friends and family, eat healthy meals, exercise, spend quality time with your partner, and join a mommy support group. Postpartum care for moms includes healing and comfort tips. The first six weeks following childbirth are considered the postpartum period, and it may take some time for you to feel like your usual self again. It’s normal to take it slowly and don’t push yourself. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy, mama! Enjoy the time with your newborn and take care of yourself.
What is the 40 day ritual after birth?
In the Middle East, resting for 40 days after having a baby is customary in Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, and Palestine. This period allows someone to stay with the new mother or come to the house to take care of the baby, the house, and other children. Today’s obstetricians can draw parallels between the associated causes of morbidity and mortality in the postpartum period and the practices of the past that have become ingrained in certain cultures without questioning the fundamental reasons behind them. Recognizing and understanding this cultural diversity may help bridge the chasm between modern society and the traditions of the past.
References include studies by the American Public Health Association, Balcazar, Peterson, Krull, Brettell, Callister, Davis, Galanti, Holroyd, Katie, Chun, Ha, Jordan, Lang, Manderson, Nahas, Hillege, and Amashen, and Middle Eastern migrant women in Australia. These studies highlight the importance of understanding and respecting the cultural beliefs and practices of different cultures in order to provide culturally competent care for women and newborns. By acknowledging and addressing these cultural differences, obstetricians can better support and improve the health outcomes of their patients.
What is the 5 5 5 rule postpartum?
The 5-5-5 rule in postpartum care provides a useful framework for new mothers to ensure adequate rest and wellbeing. The 5-5-5 rule suggests that a new mother should spend five days in bed, five days on the bed, and five days around the bed, with the initial five days dedicated to rest and bonding with the infant.
What does postpartum period involve?
The duration of postpartum vaginal discharge is typically between four and six weeks. It is not uncommon for the breasts to swell and feel tight and sore during the initial postpartum period, which typically lasts for the first week or two. During this time, it is not uncommon for feelings of sadness or anxiety to occur. Postpartum depression can be a serious condition, and women may experience cramps for up to two weeks. The uterus undergoes a reduction in size, returning to its typical dimensions over the course of several months.
What is personal hygiene during postpartum period?
Postpartum care is crucial for maternal health, as over 60 of maternal deaths occur in the postpartum period and 45 of these deaths occur within the first 24 hours. Women should remain in the healthcare facility for at least 24 hours after delivery. Postpartum monitoring should include checking vital signs, uterine involution, vaginal bleeding, perineal tear/episiotomy scar, urination and bowel movement, and signs of anemia. It is essential to clean the perineum daily, change sanitary napkins every 4 to 6 hours, and ensure proper care for the neonate.
What is the 5 rule for postpartum?
The 5-5-5 rule in postpartum care provides a useful framework for new mothers to ensure adequate rest and wellbeing. The 5-5-5 rule suggests that a new mother should spend five days in bed, five days on the bed, and five days around the bed, with the initial five days dedicated to rest and bonding with the infant.
What is the miracle hour after birth?
The Golden Hour is a crucial period of skin-to-skin contact between a birthing parent and newborn. This ensures uninterrupted contact for the first hour or two after birth, minimizing interruptions such as exams and measurements.
What is the golden period after birth?
The period immediately following birth, known as the Golden Hour, is of paramount importance for the formation of the mother-baby bond. The practice of skin-to-skin contact has been demonstrated to facilitate the formation of an attachment between mother and infant, reduce stress levels in the newborn, and facilitate the infant’s adaptation to life outside the womb. In the event that a healthy mother gives birth after 37 weeks of gestation, the UK HealthCare team will facilitate kangaroo care, or skin-to-skin contact.
What is the 40 day postpartum rule?
Postpartum care is a crucial aspect of women’s health, often prescribed by many cultures as a 30-40-day period of rest and recovery. However, many women in the United States lack formal or informal maternal support during this period. To optimize the health of women and infants, postpartum care should become an ongoing process, tailored to each woman’s individual needs. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that the timing of comprehensive postpartum visits be individualized and woman-centered, including an initial assessment within the first 3 weeks postpartum to address acute postpartum issues. This assessment should be followed up with ongoing care as needed, culminating with a comprehensive well-woman visit no later than 12 weeks after birth.
Currently, as many as 40 of women do not attend a postpartum visit, which impedes the management of chronic health conditions and access to effective contraception. Attendance rates are lower among populations with limited resources, contributing to health disparities. To improve engagement, it is essential to align insurance coverage policies to support this tailored approach to “fourth trimester” care.
What are 5 needs that a mother has during the postnatal period?
Postnatal maternal care focuses on early identification of general danger signs through regular checks on the mother’s temperature, pulse, blood pressure, and physical examination for contractions, bleeding, genital damage, infection, or hypertensive disorders. Core care includes measuring vital signs, washing the genital area, checking for tears, blood clots, cervical prolapse, bleeding, and providing micronutrient supplementation.
Counseling the mother, her partner, and other family members during the postnatal period empowers them to recognize danger symptoms, seek appropriate care, improve nutrition, support breastfeeding and recovery, and provide emotional support. Seclusion of mothers and babies during the postnatal period can lead to neglect, feelings of isolation, and depression, as danger signs may be missed if no one is with them.
Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs) for Study Session 5 can be completed by answering the questions in your Study Diary and discussing them with your Tutor at the next Study Support Meeting.
What is the Hindu ritual after a baby is born?
The Jatakarma ceremony is a ritual that occurs when the father introduces a child into the family. This ritual ensures a safe and comfortable environment for the child by involving physical contact, olfactory stimulation, and the recitation of religious verses.
📹 Rethinking Postpartum Care | Sara Reardon | TEDxLSU
How often do people talk about vaginas? Pelvic floor physical therapist Sara Reardon argues that it should be more often, and not …
If you: – don’t feel like yourself – cannot bond with the baby – feel irritable – have changes in appetite – feel anxiety – have low energy – feel hopeless You may have postpartum depression (it usually develops within 4-6 weeks postpartum, but it may take several months). Some experience it so severely that they may have the urge to self-harm or even have suicidal thoughts. If you have just given birth, please take care of yourself as much as possible. It is okay for you to depend on your partner, family, healthcare professionals and other people.. you don’t have to do everything alone and shouldn’t have to If your loved one has recently given birth, please let them know that they’re loved. Help them even without them asking. Try to be more patient and understanding, because they have just given birth and it is really a difficult process.. 😊 Edit: Oh and, DO WHAT WORKS BEST FOR YOU!
Just had my third child a month ago. Just so as not to scare anyone off, your postpartum period can also be ok. For me it was a bit different with each child but I was up and doing things pretty comfortably within a couple of days. I’m not trying to make anyone who had a harder time feel worse but just remind people that (as with pregnancy) you probably won’t get every symptom at full strength, you might feel more emotional but physically ok, or vice versa.
As someone who just gave birth 2 months ago, yes it’s very hard. It’s painful and uncomfortable. However, it doesn’t last that long. Just make sure you do everything your doctor advises after childbirth. It was hard, but the joy of having my little one makes me excited to have another. Don’t deny yourself an amazing experience without fully knowing everything. These articles make it seem scarier than it actually is.
I had a really easy post partum, considering i did have a painful labour. I had some grazes after birth but I took a medication so it wouldn’t sting when I went to the bathroom. You bleed for a couple of days but it feels good because all of the inflammation and swelling in your body is being released with that blood. Otherwise I had an incredible amount of relief after I gave birth, being able to bend over and just walk quickly again felt amazing! The boost of oxytocin also makes you feel incredibly relaxed and you’re just in awe of your baby. Birth and motherhood is a positive experience, there’s a lot of fear mongering out there. It’s such a short time of your life and it should be treasured.
I appreciate the awareness this article brings. Just had my son in apr 2022 and in march 2023 I finally was able to go to the gym again, feel like myself again, (still nursing) but all these things go way past the 6 weeks for most of us. I thought I would fit it in my old clothes by 6 weeks and cried when I couldn’t, even at 2 months. Postpartum stage is a crazy one, and mental health is more important than ever around this time. Any parent to be reading this, don’t forget to put in your oxygen mask❤
I agree with MOST of this article, except the losing weight part, especially for breastfeeding moms. I’m one of those moms that loses 0 weight breastfeeding and I just had my third 9 months ago. A lot of times though most people hear that breastfeeding helps you to lose weight postpartum. But that’s only true for SOME women- not all. That is why I started my own YouTube website because a lot of things concerning motherhood I found out the hard way. But now, also being a doula, I’d like to help other mommas on their journey as well☺️!
Add dealing with episiotomy and infection… post natal depression and lack of sleep. No way did I feel more myself by 6 weeks! More like 3 months. Those first weeks were the darkest and hardest days. Shes 13 weeks old now and I’m enjoying being a mum. I think postpartum experience for a lot of women is ALOT harder than this makes out. Also if you’ve had a traumatic birth you may have ptsd for a while after
One thing you learn after going through a pregnancy is everything last for a moment, so there is no need to be super scared of postpartum, it is for few weeks or months than it will pass too. You just deliver a human being, like a whole person, you cant expect your body to just act like nothing happened, you are a super hero, super heroes get hurt in the process of winning the battle and it is okay.
Add to that thé possibility of your boyfriend /husband becoming distant or an altered sense of your relationship (some women go through the trauma of abandonment / losing their partner at that stage … which could totally induce C-PTSD symptoms) + sleep deprivation + new and overwhealming feeling of responsability and you have the perfect mix for suicide ideation
No matter how much support we have the initial 2 days postpartum is a nightmare!.. we will have depression for useless reasons.. but will be back to normal after a month!.. have family and friends support!.. knowin all these i had my second baby also .. now its too good see them growin up after all d hardwork!!..
Six weeks postpartum, and unless my mom or sister is over to help, I feel lucky to get in an hour, and sometimes even a half hours of chores into my day. I can go out on walks or out, but that calms the little one. It is so tough having a little one that won’t sleep or be happy alone for more than a few minutes. I feel so bad how much my husband has to help at my time of day when he has a job (self employed) to do. I just need an hour of her sleeping when I’m not sleeping.
I just gave birth a week ago and it’s 5am in morning while I continue to breastfeed my newborn, hoping he’ll sleep soon. I needed to watch this. Sometimes mentally, postpartum can really be a test of human limits in physical, mental and emotional capacity. I’m doing my best, if you’re a new mom out there, just know you are too. Don’t be afraid to ask for help or a break. 💜
It’s sad how I went to a bunch of doctors appointments when I was pregnant. Not once was Postpartum depression talked about not even a pamphlet handed to me. I just had google to help when I started getting extreme anxiety,dizziness,depression,ocd and even started hallucinating. Ladies please get informed before having kids sadly alot of women take there lives. We cannot let this keep happening, get informed, eat protein and take vitamins. Take time for yourself and talk to friends and family. Professional help is the best option for a faster recovery. You don’t have to suffer.
I can say postpartum was one of the hardest days… But all of it is worth it. It’s a different experience for all of us ladies. Give them as much support and space as you can. Sometimes they need help but sometimes they need space. Tune in to them and be patient in assisting them. They went through a whole lot in labour.
Girls listen. I’ve have 2 babies. The 2nd was a breeze no ripping or tearing I was able to get up and walk right away I felt like a million bucks. Don’t listen to everything you hear. Every women has a different experience. At the end of the day it’s all worth it because there’s nothing in this world you will love more than your babies.
My sister gave birth about a month ago and she had a c section. She just got her period again and I ran out of pads (I was giving her mine since I don’t use them often) so I offered her a tampon and idk why she still can’t use them even tho she had a c section. I think it’s kinda weird bc she’s completely healed. Can anyone tell me why? She’s getting released to use tampons in a week but I just wanna know why she can’t use them now
I had my son in oct. I didnt go through sickness or labor pain. My baby is a good baby he rarely cries and sleeps alot. I didnt experience ppd. For this reason i dont think I could have another child bc I dodged every bullet there was when it came to child birth my baby often makes me forget regular babies arent as calm as he is… so in a way idk what its like to have a baby lol 😆
i get some of this is helpful but they need to add that POSTPATRUM DEPRESSION IS REAL and can be overlooked so easily as a new mon is always busy and worn out no matter how many children she has had already believe me when you go through that that you’re not alone and it actually happens to more than youd think there are also ways to help without being prescribed medicine if that isnt your thing or if your case isn’t as serious love u all ♡
It took 6 months for me to come out of that postpartum depression. The worst phase. I was crying throughout, shouting, not eating any food.. And gradually by three months my nursing flow started to reduce because of having food one time a day. No elders to guide . The worst phase.. MIL showed all her tantrums during my postpartum period. She proved that a MIL cannot be a mother.
You never really “feel like your self again”. There are lot of permanent changes you may experience like bigger feet and that is okay. Also this is the new you. All these changes which is okay. Hairloss can happen after 4 mo too. Some women get ppd a year or yr and half later after child too. Complete postpartum is a year but if it takes you much longer you don’t have to be a statistic.
Lol all the kids saying they won’t have babies because of this article 🤣 it’s fine if you don’t but trust me it isn’t that bad. I’m 20 (got pregnant at 19). It can be different for everyone but it’s not so bad to the point you should purposely not have kids. Yeah I spend most days looking like a troll but taking care of my baby is amazing and post partum issues we’re the easiest thing to deal with lol.
Add a colic baby for 4 months and no support due to extenuating factors out of your control and then try to do all the healthy right things….you won’t because you’ll either be too exhausted to care, not have time and on top of it you’ll have strangers heaping mommy guilt on top of all that. Make sure you have a ridiculously good support network.
5 years after my 6th child, which happened to be a C-section, I finally understood that I needed postpartum care. I had NO IDEA until receiving pelvic floor care recently that everything that had been ailing my body had to do with my middle area because of pregnancy and surgery trauma. Now I am wishing somehow I could help other women around me understand recovery is real. Nerves can be regrown after numbness and muscles can be strengthened to make you feel normal again. It is an amazing discovery for me. I hope this information spreads quickly throughout the nation. We all need to know we can recover well.
I am on my third pregnancy (first was twins) and this pregnancy is the first time I’ve ever heard of doing postpartum physical therapy as a regular part of care. I think I heard about it on instagram, and I’m definitely going to pursue it this time. It eouldve been so helpful with my twins, but fortunately, with several years and lots of exercise I was able to finally heal my abdomonal muscles
I was disappointed in this talk not going to lie…… I was hoping to learn more from her talk on actual treatment and care, not just addressing problems, but specific solutions! In the start.. I was hopeful she’d speak from experience and the regimen that she did for postpartum, the problems surrounding said regimen, and then what she did to improve her health from there. However it was not the case, more an informative article of the problems than actually one to learn from how to move forward from those problems. If anyone has any recommendations of links for articles or practices let me know!