The highs and lows of the postpartum stage!

The highs and lows of the postpartum stage!

It really can look like this. Exhaustion immediately after birth, followed by surges in oxytocin and adrenaline that sometimes prevent you going to sleep.

The excitement and relief of giving birth can have you staring at your sleeping baby constantly. Babies often appear calm and sleepy for the first couple of days after giving birth whilst they too recover and start to make sense of the world, as so lull you into a false sense of security!

A few days later, you may find you crash a little. You may feel tearful, tired, anxious and sometimes overwhelmed with the prospect of having a little human who is totally dependent on you. This can be heightened if you are struggling with breastfeeding or have limited support.

For most people these feelings are temporary but if it goes on for a couple of weeks, reach out to your care provider.

Not everyone will experience this but just incase you do, it's good to be forearmed. Prepare for your postpartum period during pregnancy, whether that's pmeals, family/friend support, or simply having access to local support, including infant feeding services.

What did your first week look like?