Yay, your baby is finally here - congratulations! The healing process from birth has now begun and you and your baby are beginning the bonding process, learning who each other are. It is an exciting, exhausting, loving, sleep-deprived, magical, frustrating time. Each time a mother births a baby, not only is that baby experiencing a new world, but so is she. First baby? You're both adapting to the newness of parenting. Second baby? You're now juggling the needs of two humans (really 3, since you should count yourself). Third, fourth, tenth baby? You're now adjusting to another family member, and regardless of how smoothly the transition goes, everyone in the family feels it.
As mothers it can be hard to remember to take care of ourselves when our plates are so full managing our households and taking care of the needs of our kids (and spouses). Know this though: you cannot pour from an empty cup and how you take care of yourself during the fourth trimester has long term physical and mental health effects.
I took a postpartum care course when I was pregnant with my third. In it, the instructor shared that how we take care of our bodies for the first 40 days postpartum sets us up for the next 40 years. Seems a little like a stretch, yeah? On average though, women have their first babies between 20 and 30 years old. In 40 years, she will be 60-70 years old and fully in menopause. How her body healed initially postpartum can have ramifications during the menopausal period. For example, mild uterine prolapse can mean incontinent issues during her later years.
While short term care, like chiropractic adjustments, pelvic floor physical therapy, massage therapy, may seem like a luxury or one more thing on your never ending to do list, know that taking care of yourself is absolutely one of the best things you can do as a mother. It is not being selfish. You are modeling to your kids what it means to truly take care of your needs so that you can show up better for others.
My role as a your chiropractor is to support you through the initial healing phase and beyond. The journey as a mother is beautiful and challenging, and I want to make sure that you know you are showing up, you are enough, and you are doing your best!
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