Lydia is a 26-year-old journalist and mother of a two-year boy. She recounts her experiences as a new mom -a period that made her realize that there was so much she didn’t know about new motherhood.
“It was at 4am when I was woken up by sharp pains in my belly. The moment was here; my baby was finally arriving. And sure enough, six hours later, my baby boy arrived -healthy, happy and bouncing!
Well, while I had thought that the labor and birthing process was the hardest part about being a mother, I hadn’t encountered the difficulties of the post-natal period.
The Lochia
For starters, let’s talk about the bleeding. The bleeding, accompanied by contractual pains in the uterus (especially as baby breastfed) lasted for weeks. Sometimes, it was messy and I experienced a few leakages. No one ever told me about this uncomfortable experience.
I also had to also sit on warm salty water for purposes of healing the stitches ‘down there’. And it hurt! I had to clean the area between my vagina and anus three times a day to avoid infection. But the pain involved was crazy.
Long Calls
Going for a long call was not a good experience either. I couldn’t squat because of the stitches and so I had to do this halfway-standing halfway-sitting kind of thing.
I was advised by the midwife to always go to the loo whenever I felt the need to poop in order to avoid constipation, otherwise it would lead to my stitches rupturing. If that happened, I would then need to return to hospital to be stitched up again. Imagine that!
Constant Fatigue
I remember there was this day I was hanging my newborn’s clothes outside when I felt myself starting to sway from side to side. I was staggering like a drunk person. That was when I realized how fatigued I was.
The exhaustion was because of the sleepless nights I had to endure as my newborn would wake up countless times at night. During the day, I would be hosting visitors who had come to see him. So I barely got enough sleep. Even though I had a house help (who handled all household chores), most of the responsibility of caring for baby lay with me, thus draining all my energy.
Baby’s Cries
When growing up, I used to see mothers breastfeed their babies whenever they cried. When I became one, I tried using this trick to calm my son but sometimes it didn’t work. I came to learn that babies cry for a multiple of reasons such as when they are feeling warm, cold, are wet or their stomach hurts. Sometimes, breastfeeding isn’t the solution –as my newborn son clearly taught me.
Burping Challenges
I didn’t know much about burping a baby after they had breastfeed. Not doing so led my son to suffer from gas problems before I knew about it. Mastering the art of burping him successfully was another struggle altogether that thoroughly stressed me.
These are some of the experiences I faced as a new mom. They convinced me that healthcare workers need to give information to expectant and new moms about how to how to cope with their new roles as mothers. The information also needs to include how they can cope with the stresses that come along with this role. It can really be a difficult period for moms, and it’s much worse when they have no information. They need to be adequately prepared for their new role.
Also Read: The Day I Suffered an Anxiety Attack
I have come to learn that many new mothers suffer from post natal depression (many times which they don’t even know they are suffering from) because they are not well prepared on how to handle the stress that comes with a baby. To be honest, I was going nuts and I never thought I would survive this period. But I’m glad I did.
Are you a pregnant mom? Do you feel adequately prepared about the journey that lies ahead? Talk to other moms about what to expect. You’ll be surprised about how much information moms are willing to share with you and how this can help you in your journey. Don’t be hesitant to reach out.” -END
Mummy Tales by Maryanne W. Waweru is a platform dedicated to empowering its readers on different aspects of womanhood and motherhood. Read more motherhood experiences of Kenyan moms here. Connect with Mummy Tales on: FACEBOOK l YOU TUBE l TWITTER
