KANISA GEORGE
How much do we know about postnatal care? Do we fully appreciate the sheer physical exhaustion and psychological peril that comes with the surge of hormones coursing through the body? Or what a woman has to do to get back on track?
When we think of the journey to motherhood, pregnancy, labour, and delivery quickly comes to mind. Yet most of us seldom fail to think of the "fourth trimester" or the postpartum period after delivery that consists of a little more than staring at your bundle of joy in awe. Unfortunately, there is no user manual for the postpartum experience, and even research found that little is known about what pregnant women expect or how well-informed they feel about the care they will receive during the postnatal period.
Defined as the six weeks after a woman delivers her baby, postpartum is underscored by happiness and excitement but can also be a time where support from family, friends or service providers is crucial.
The do's, don't, and the "I'm not sure what to do" during the fourth trimester can only be conceptualised through experience. And even when you've garnered first-hand experience, it doesn't always prepare you for the full gauntlet of feelings and unique experiences each pregnancy brings.
During the first few weeks after delivery, a woman's life becomes consumed by the needs of her new-born. In many ways, doting on and taking care of their baby's needs is all most women and the support system around her can think about.
Naturally, women are hard-wired to reject self-care and pore every inch of their souls into nesting, breastfeeding, and swaddling, adamantly denying their need to be swaddled. Most women don't readily concede that postal care should also include care for themselves.
Especially for first-time moms, the fourth trimester is a new frontier, a learning period marred by physical, social, and psychological changes.
Importantly, this is a time when women learn to care not only for their babies but themselves after changes in hormone levels and delivery.
For a long time, it appeared women who experienced postpartum challenges were sworn to some misguided oath of secrecy, and struggled to adjust without any real support or others being aware of their plight. Even with all the information currently available on the postpartum period, women are still unable to communicate their needs and access facilities that ensure a support-driven transition.
The World Health Organization suggests mothers and their new-borns should have at least three postpartum visits after delivery. The first should be within 48 to 72 hours after birth, the second between day seven and 14, and the third at six weeks postpartum. Data from the WHO suggest that most maternal and infant deaths occur in the first six weeks after delivery, yet this remains the most neglected phase in providing quality maternal and new-born care.
[caption id="attachment_1009133" align="alignnone" width="823"] Kanisa George -[/caption]
A massive flaw in providing proper care for women after b
