Having a baby is a magical experience. The anticipation, and almost 10-month wait, becomes all worth it once you finally get to hold in your arms the precious little gem that you created. But then, as you return home from the hospital (or birth center), something funny starts to happen. All of the energy you put into taking care of yourself before the baby was born, transfers to your child.

Every thought, every idea, every worry, every everything becomes all about the baby - a most natural reaction, of course. But as the old saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup, and the postpartum period for moms is a critical time to ensure you’re minding your cup just as often as the baby bottles.

At Dr. Gena Chiropractic, a family chiropractor practice in Plantation, we are not only passionate about your new baby’s well-being, we care deeply for yours, as well. Here are some ways that every new mom can ensure she’s just as well taken care of as her new baby:

Postnatal Doulas

By this point, you’ve likely heard of the benefits of having a doula during your birth experience, but did you know that you can also work with a postnatal doula to help you transition into your new role as “mommy”? From personal experience, Dr. Gena highly recommends hiring a postnatal doula to help you out.

“Everything from helping me with feedings, to swaddling and changing my new baby, and what all of those different cries mean - my postnatal doula helped me with. She’s made me feel like a pro-mom, and encouraged me to trust my motherly instincts even though this is my first time as a mom!” Dr. Gena says.

Therapy

This may not be the case for all moms, but for a lot of moms, feeling a little down after giving birth is actually quite normal. This is called the “postpartum blues” which come on quickly and also disappear rather quickly too. It’s important to know, however, whether these feelings are fleeting or lingering. If they are lingering longer than you can handle, this may mean you could be suffering from postpartum depression. A licensed therapist can help you figure out which is which.

Here’s a little more information on both and how you can distinguish between the two:

Postpartum Blues or “Baby Blues”

According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 70-80% of all new mothers experience some negative feelings or mood swings after the birth of their child. Often the symptoms of “baby blues” will hit forcefully within four to five days after the birth of the baby, although depending on how the birth of the baby went, they may be noticeable earlier. Symptoms of “baby blues” include:

Weepiness or crying for no apparent reason

Impatience

Irritability

Restlessness

Anxiety

Fatigue

Insomnia (even when the baby is sleeping)

Sadness

Mood changes

Poor concentration

Postpartum Depression

Some new moms experience a more severe, long-lasting form of depression known as postpartum depression. Rarely, an extreme mood disorder called postpartum psychosis also may develop after childbirth.

Postpartum depression isn't a character flaw or a weakness. Sometimes it's simply a complication of giving birth. If you have postpartum depression, prompt treatment can help you manage your symptoms and help you bond with your baby. Symptoms include:

Depressed mood or severe mood swings

Excessive crying

Difficulty bonding with your baby

Withdrawing from family and friends

Loss of appetite or eating much more than usual

Inability to sleep (insomnia) or sleeping too much

Overwhelming fatigue or loss of energy

Reduced interest and pleasure in activities you used to enjoy

Intense irritability and anger

Fear that you're not a good mother

Hopelessness

Feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy

Diminished ability to think clearly, concentrate or make decisions

Restlessness

Severe anxiety and panic attacks

Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide

A licensed therapist who is trained in working with new moms and spotting the difference between the baby blues and PPD can be a lifesaver, and is very highly recommended.

Nutrition and Supplements 

Let’s face it, new motherhood means you are not going to get a lot of sleep. One way to combat exhaustion is to ensure you are treating your body right when it comes to nutrition and taking good care of yourself emotionally and physically.

Losing baby weight should not be the focus after you have your baby - taking good care of yourself means you’re eating enough to sustain your own energy, especially if you’re breastfeeding which as you may know, can leave you feeling starving at all moments of the day. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables and healthy fats are essential to your diet now. Healthline lists these 7 foods as the best ones for postpartum care, and also boast them as providing energy for the weeks to come:

Chicken Soup

Crackers

Dates

Oatmeal with Fresh Fruit

Beef Jerky

Eggs

Apples

As for supplements, we suggest the following:

Iron

Vitamin B-12

DHA, an Omega-3 Fatty Acid

Choline

Vitamin D

Supportive Health Care

Support goes a long way as a new mom. This period of time is critical and should you choose to spend it with others, make sure they are proactive in helping you heal, and allowing you to foster your motherly instincts. Don’t forget to ask for help when you need it - you and your new baby deserve a happy and healthy mama - not a martyr.

For any other postnatal/postpartum support, give us a call today! We’re your go-to family Plantation chiropractor located just minutes west of Fort Lauderdale and can’t wait meet you and your new little one. Congrats!