Recovering After Childbirth

More than half of new mothers report fatigue as a problem as much as six weeks, or even longer, after childbirth. A major factor of the fatigue is sleep deprivation during the latter months of pregnancy and initial period after the birth of their baby.

Recovery from child birth can vary widely from woman to woman but there are a few things you can do to shorten the time. Sleep deprivation and the resulting fatigue is hard to overcome, as a new baby seldom sleeps through the night in the first months. Nightly interruption of the mother's sleep leads to constant tiredness. The elevated hormone levels present after childbirth also contribute, in a negative way, to this problem, but fortunately they only last about a week after childbirth. On the bright side of things, it only takes a couple of nights of uninterrupted sleep for the new mother to recover.

Time management is a particular challenge with a new baby in the house. So much time is needed to take care of the baby that your schedule, which worked before the birth, no longer functions. A good plan is to try to anticipate the potential problems and build a network of friends and family that are willing to help during the initial weeks after the baby is born. Talk with other new mothers and make of list of problems they faced. Look over your current schedule and see if others can take over most of these tasks for a short time. Your focus should be on caring for your new baby during the weeks immediately following his/her birth and having enough time for your own recovery, which requires time for rest.

I'm not suggesting you should immerse yourself totally in the care of your new baby. Believe it or not, dealing with one or two day-to-day activities is good for you and provides a needed break from child care. Others will want to help with the baby's care - Dad will enjoy sharing the feeding schedule and new grandparents will be eager to spend time with their grandchild.

Make time for yourself too, away from the baby and other things that are demanding your time and energy. Have somewhere in the house you can retreat to for a few minutes of peace and quiet each day. A long warm bath may seem like a luxury you can't afford, but it will help to recharge your energy, rest your mind and shorten your recovery time. A well-balanced diet is important. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be helpful - talk with your doctor. Don't start a weight-reduction diet during the first three months after the baby's birth. Carbohydrates are important during this critical period for several processes and reducing them in your diet will slow your recovery, aggravating your fatigue and weakness.

Maintain at least one pleasant routine in your schedule. Any hobby that you enjoy will help to recharge your energy and speed your recovery. As soon as your doctor says it's OK - try taking short walks during the day. Walking will help to get your body back into shape and the activity will also increase your energy levels and aid in your overall recovery.