{"id":1029,"date":"2023-02-10T21:37:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-10T21:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fajasbela.com\/?p=1029"},"modified":"2023-02-10T21:37:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-10T21:37:43","slug":"5-reasons-why-you-need-a-postpartum-support-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/5-reasons-why-you-need-a-postpartum-support-network\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Reasons Why You Need a Postpartum Support Network"},"content":{"rendered":"

An ob-gyn shares how and why to build a dedicated support team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Angelica Glover<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

The postpartum period \u2013 that is, the months after baby arrives \u2013 is a time of tremendous change, responsibility, and healing. The care you receive after giving birth is just as important as your prenatal care. After all, many pregnancy-related complications arise after delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the keys to success during this time is a strong\u00a0<\/span>postpartum support network<\/span><\/a>. Think of your network as a web of family, friends, and health care professionals you can depend on, and who you should ask for help. Some can be there for you in person when you need it, and others are just a phone or video call away. Any kind of support \u2013 virtual or physical \u2013 is crucial.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s why it\u2019s so important to prepare a support team for those first few months at home.<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. \n

    New motherhood is a taxing time<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Women are stretched thin after delivery, physically and emotionally. It can be a challenge to think about self-care, let alone make time for it. Whether it\u2019s your first child or your fifth, a \u201cvillage\u201d of support can offer the resources you need.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Note that while we typically define the postpartum period as the first 12 weeks after birth, the whole first year is a high-risk time for new mothers. This is especially true if you had complications during pregnancy or delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. \n

      Postpartum support can take many forms<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Your postpartum support network starts with your obstetric care team: ob-gyn, midwife, nurses, or doula. Before long, your child\u2019s pediatrician enters the picture. You also may eventually need to see a specialist, depending on your needs or medical conditions. A few examples of specialists include lactation consultants, cardiologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and physical therapists.<\/span><\/p>\n

      And remember the role your primary care provider can play here. He or she may get involved in your postpartum care if you had a complication affecting your long-term health, like\u00a0<\/span>preeclampsia<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<\/span>gestational diabetes<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

      At home, your support system can be your partner, family, friends, and neighbors. Really, it\u2019s anyone you feel comfortable with and trust, especially when you\u2019re not feeling your best.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. \n

        Staying home doesn\u2019t have to mean being alone<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Of course, postpartum support may be harder to find while the country is dealing with the coronavirus. But this just makes planning ahead even more important.<\/span><\/p>\n

        If you prepare a support team, you can talk with them about how they can find ways to be there for you \u2013 even from a distance. Maybe a neighbor could leave food at your doorstep or take your dog for a walk. A doctor could chat on the phone or set up a video call \u2013 and discuss when you may need to get in-person support.<\/span><\/p>\n

        One website to bookmark for virtual mental health support is\u00a0<\/span>Postpartum Support International<\/span><\/a>. They\u00a0<\/span>offer online support group meetings<\/span><\/a>, where you can connect with other postpartum women. And each week they host a\u00a0<\/span>Chat With an Expert<\/span><\/a>\u00a0phone call, where you can dial in to ask questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. \n

          Your network can be an extra set of eyes and ears<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Friends, family, and physicians are often the first to recognize warning signs when a new mom is struggling. Let us in and don\u2019t ignore suggestions for help.<\/span><\/p>\n

          For example, a new mom could be out of breath or not acting like herself. Someone who knows her well can notice this \u2013 even on a phone or video call \u2013 and say, \u201cI\u2019m worried about you. You should get checked out.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

          Sometimes postpartum patients will tell me they are doing well, but their blood pressure, level of bleeding, or other signs will tell a different story. Other times a patient will come right out with a tearful admission: \u201cI\u2019m struggling with breastfeeding.\u201d And I\u2019m always on the lookout for mental health issues, because that\u2019s one of the most common complications that crop up in the weeks and months after birth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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          1. \n

            It\u2019s doubly important for high-risk moms and babies<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            All new mothers need a baseline of support \u2013 sleep, healthy food, time to herself \u2013 and then there might be reasons for extra care and attention. Preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, heavy bleeding, and\u00a0<\/span>cesarean birth<\/span><\/a>\u00a0are just some of the factors that put women at higher risk for postpartum complications.<\/span><\/p>\n

            You and your ob-gyn can talk about whether you are at higher risk for complications, and what extra care you may need.<\/span><\/p>\n

            A new mom could be out of breath or not acting like herself. Someone who knows her well can notice this \u2013 even on a phone or video call<\/span><\/p>\n

            Dr. Angelica Glover<\/span><\/p>\n

            In it together<\/span><\/h3>\n

            Every woman\u2019s postpartum needs will be different. Some moms may require a large village, while others may only need a few people to lean on. Either way, it\u2019s OK to ask for help.<\/span><\/p>\n

            By the way: The time to talk about postpartum support is\u00a0<\/span>before<\/span><\/i>\u00a0your baby is born. With my patients, I bring up the subject in a series of conversations during the third trimester. What are your plans for feeding the baby? Who will be with you at home? Who\u2019s available if you need a break? This way we map out the postpartum support network in advance.<\/span><\/p>\n

            We all want happy, healthy moms and babies, and there are so many resources available. Speak up, say what you\u2019re feeling, and tell someone if something is bothering you. That helps us \u2013 your village \u2013 help you.<\/span><\/p>\n

            Published: October 2020<\/span><\/p>\n

            Last reviewed: October 2020<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            An ob-gyn shares how and why to build a dedicated support team.\u00a0 Dr. Angelica Glover   The postpartum period \u2013 that is, the months after baby arrives \u2013 is a time of tremendous change, responsibility, and healing. The care you receive after giving birth is just as important as your prenatal care. After all, many […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1022,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categorizar"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":["https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Articulo-4-1000x445.jpg",1000,445,true],"list":["https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Articulo-4-463x348.jpg",463,348,true],"medium":["https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Articulo-4-300x171.jpg",300,171,true],"full":["https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Articulo-4.jpg",1000,569,false]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1029"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1030,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1029\/revisions\/1030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fajasbela.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}