ARE WE EVER READY FOR BABY?
BY KATE HIMSWORTH
Is there such a thing as a perfect postpartum? We spend so much time preparing for baby’s arrival that we often forget that the show must go on after our bundle of joy has arrived. Even with that fancy stroller, sometimes life can be a bit mucky during those first six weeks, so knowing what to expect after the big day can make this transition easier.
I remember when my first son was born in 1990, at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. We had to pay for the TV rental in the gift shop. I stood at the cashier, delaying the inevitable. I had my five-day old son in his seat and I was dreading going home. I mean, I had no experience and this was a human being that I was solely responsible for. Didn’t anyone know that I was utterly unprepared? I felt anxious and would have given my left arm to have someone come home with me. It turned out all right in the end, but I wish I had known more about what life postpartum would be like.
As a Certified Birth Doula and Certified Placenta Encapsulation Specialist, I am passionate about providing expectant mothers the information they need to make their postpartum as gentle as possible and, dare I say, more enjoyable? Knowing that the sleep deprivation is completely different than an all-nighter in University, that breast feeding may – or may not – be the most emotional challenge you have encountered to date, and that the roller coaster of emotions will take you by surprise, is all part of the preparation process.
Surrendering to your body is key to a positive birthing experience, and honouring your body and being prepared for life with baby is a key part of having a positive postpartum. There are postpartum doulas to come in and ‘mother the mother’, there are lactation consultants who make house calls, and if you took any prenatal education classes, those ladies might very well be your weekly mums group in the months ahead. Make a list of these resources to have on hand in case you need them and add to them as you go along, even if you don’t need them. You may very well meet a new mother who doesn’t have a list of her own and she will appreciate you sharing your information.
The most important thing to take on board is that you don’t have to know everything and you don’t have to be perfect. You already are perfect to your child, and THAT is all that matters.
