Congratulations on the arrival of your precious little one! At Columbus OB/GYN, we are committed to providing comprehensive postpartum care to support you and your baby during this transformative time.
Our team of dedicated healthcare professionals is here to guide you through the physical and emotional changes of the postpartum period, ensuring your well-being and the health of your newborn.
After childbirth, your body goes through a significant healing process. Our experienced healthcare providers offer personalized postpartum care to monitor your physical recovery, assess potential complications, and address concerns such as pain management, perineal care, and incision healing (in the case of a C-section).
We provide guidance on postpartum exercises, proper nutrition, and self-care practices to help you regain strength and energy.
Breastfeeding is a beautiful and natural way to nourish your baby but can also come with challenges. Our team is available to provide guidance, support, and education on breastfeeding techniques, latching, milk supply, and resolving common breastfeeding difficulties. We are committed to helping you establish a successful breastfeeding relationship with your newborn.
The postpartum period can bring about a range of emotions, including joy, exhaustion, anxiety, and even sadness. Our compassionate healthcare providers at Columbus OB/GYN are here to address your emotional well-being.
Sometimes, you may feel low after giving birth. You can feel lonely, upset, and even weak. Oftentimes these negative feelings come as a surprise because you thought you would feel elation and joy after birth.
The truth is that most new mothers experience these feelings, which are consequently dubbed the “baby blues.” Around 70-80% of new mothers get the baby blues, which includes symptoms such as:
Usually, these symptoms are short-lived and typically come and go during the first few days to a week after childbirth. They usually do not merit treatment, as they go away by themselves.
The excitement of bringing a new addition home to the family can be a very joyous, fulfilling time. However, not all new mothers experience these happy feelings. Instead, you may experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, or resentment after the birth of your child. In mild forms, it is often called having the “baby blues,” as mentioned above, and is normal to experience for a short period of time.
However, not all cases of the “baby blues” go away after a week. When feelings worsen and become more severe or are persistent, this becomes a condition called postpartum depression. It is a medical condition and requires treatment and attention from a medical professional.
If you have postpartum depression, you may have difficulty performing tasks or making decisions. Postpartum depression usually develops within the first 1-3 weeks after birth, although it may occur any time after the new birth.
It is more likely that you will develop postpartum depression if you have had it before or have other psychiatric disorders or recently stressful life situations. Postpartum depression is very serious, and you need medical treatment and counseling to work through it. Your emotional health is just as important as your physical health.
If you are experiencing sad emotions after the birth of your new baby, there are several things you can do to help take care of yourself. These include:
However, if these negative feelings do not improve after a week, call your doctor. Worsening “baby blues” can be a symptom of severe postpartum depression.
If you do not call your doctor for help, they may worsen and become debilitating. If you are diagnosed with postpartum depression, the good news is that you can be treated. You may need to see a specialist who can help you with counseling. He or she may also prescribe certain medications for you called antidepressants. They are safe and effective in helping your depression improve.
If your feelings of hopelessness persist, there are support groups with women just like you with postpartum depression. These groups get together and talk about feelings as well as ways to cope and offer support to each other. In order to feel better, it is important to remember to take care of yourself.
Prioritize your physical and emotional health during your time as a new mother. It will allow you to be a better mother to your baby and enjoy the experience fully. Our medical professionals at OB/GYN are ready to guide you through postpartum by sharing our compassion and expertise every step of the way.
