Oh baby, here we go again! I recently became a mom to kiddo number three and in this case I'm learning that the third time is not necessarily a charm. I'm definitely a more confident and relaxed parent this go-around, but my body is ALL out of whack. I've heard many moms joke about various postnatal problems they've experienced, but this is the first time that most of those hormonal issues are showing up so extremely in my physical and mental function.
If you're a mom-to-be, brace yourself for a peek behind the curtain of the future. Here's a list of the postnatal problems I've personally experienced…along with some helpful solutions!
Postnatal Problems You May Look Forward To
Depression. Baby blues are inevitable, but sometimes it can get out of hand and spiral into depression – especially when you're spread so thin! I currently take an L-Theanine supplement at night to help turn my brain off, and infuse lavender oil to amp up those peaceful easy feelings throughout the day. With my first and second babies, however, I did see a doctor for postpartum depression. Seeking help is THE thing to do when you're overwhelmed, and you should know that it absolutely does not reflect on your parenting abilities. It's a simple, scientific fact that having babies messes with your brain chemistry which can cause your mood to fluctuate severely.
Bizarre scarring and skin issues. Your skin is your largest organ, so it's bound to take a hit when your body goes through a big ordeal like childbearing. Postnatal problems in this area can vary from red bumps to flakiness, and I've found that tons of hydration and Vitamin E are most helpful. For me, hormones in hyper-drive meant that my skin healed itself too rapidly and caused some strange scars to appear in places where I klutzily cut or burned myself. I'm working with Mustela and have found that their Ultimate Hydration Lotion goes a long way in softening up problem areas.
Weight gain. There's an old wive's tale out there telling new moms that breastfeeding will help the weight just fall off. Yeah, not so much. I know tons of moms who simply couldn't ditch the excess pounds until they stopped breastfeeding, because they were so DANG hungry all the time and had trouble being physically active with an infant. I say it took nine months to pack on and it takes at least that long to come off, If you really want to alter your diet, following a paleo lifestyle without gluten/grains/processed sugar/dairy can also go a long way in putting that weight gain in check.
Exhaustion. Babies don't sleep all that well, so this is BOUND to happen. Some supplements I've found that help include Green Tea Extract for increased mental clarity and Vitamin B12 for stable energy throughout the day.
Hair loss. I FREAKED the heck out when I first noticed that clumpy patches of hair were missing from my head, primarily around the hairline where it's super-noticeable. Awesome. I sent a panicked message to some fellow moms in my parenting group and they all calmed me down with pictures of their own hair loss and subsequent regrowth. The hair does eventually grow back, initially as wispy new baby hairs. You'll have to use a clever part or a bunch of hairspray to tame it for awhile until it strengthens and falls in line with the rest of your mane.
Stretch marks. Nope, you guys aren't getting example photos of this. I'll be keeping my stretchy bits to myself. You're welcome. The cause of this is pretty obvious, I think. Your skin stretches rapidly to accommodate a developing human, and after you pop that person out you're left with the aftermath. I apply Mustela‘s Stretch Marks Double Action lotion and am fortunately seeing those marks slowly fade away.
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What postnatal problems were most surprising for you?