When a woman is pregnant she has regular doctor’s visits during which her fears, concerns, and questions are answered, and she is supported as her body prepares for birth. After the birth of her child, she gets one, maybe two days to recuperate from probably the most physically challenging experience of her life, and is told to check back in six weeks.
Those six weeks, as well as the subsequent year of her life, are a critical period during which she is often neglected and insufficiently supported. In fact, no one in the medical community is designated to care for the women in this situation.
Health care
Physical. Following the birth of a child, many women are left in a fragile condition. Beyond basic care of the postpartum body, they are left all but floundering.
According to a study performed by the National Institute of Health (NIH), many mothers continue to experience pain beyond the initial six-week recovery time. At two months postpartum, more than 50% were still struggling with fatigue, about half still suffered pain in their perineum, over 80% still had pain from their C-section, in excess of half were undergoing back pain, and about a quarter endured headaches. It’s no wonder that 43% of women leave the workforce within three months of childbirth.
Despite these significant numbers, many new mothers never receive any additional care from a health-care professional, and are advised to wait it out. In comparison, all northern and western European countries provide weekly home visit check-ups that provide care for not just the mother, but any additional children she may have, as well as housework that may be necessary.
Mental. During the course of pregnancy, women answer a questionnaire at every doctor’s appointment in order to assess their mental health. This same questionnaire is given again in the hospital after birth, and in addition at the six-week postpartum check-up.
Unless more appointments are scheduled or a problem arises, it is rare for a woman to have any further appointments with a physician for the next year which focuses on her health, and would offer an opportunity to check on the mental health of the mother.
Although most signs of postpartum depression (PPD) occur by about three weeks after delivery, this is not always the case. Additionally, many women may be in denial or too overwhelmed to recognize their need for help, especially if they are unfamiliar or inexperienced with the signs and symptoms.
This is often the case because new mothers might never have experienced depression before. PPD occurs due to the vast changes in hormone levels within the body.
Because of the limited opportunities to care for a postpartum female, many signs and opportunities to treat PPD may slip through the cracks. Even when pregnant or postpartum women were found to be struggling with PPD, less than half were treated for their depression.
This number is dismal when compared to women in the same age range who received treatment for depression when they were not pregnant, which was almost three-quarters.
PostPartum Support Programs
Despite the lack of health care for postpartum mothers, there are a variety of new parent support programs that help aid parents during the transition into parenthood.
For example, there are employer benefits programs that are focused primarily on you and your postpartum needs. If you are a breastfeeding mother, you can find professional breastfeeding support programs which give parents access to International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLCs). With an employer lactation program like that offered by The Lactation Network, employers can expect to boost post-maternity leave retention from 59% to 92%. It can seamlessly be integrated into existing benefits, so employees can receive care as soon they need it.Â
An employer lactation program offers personal, inclusive access to expert care and resources, so breastfeeding parents have an equal opportunity to thrive. With the right care and the right tools, parents can return to the workplace knowing that they and their families are set up for breastfeeding success––and that their employers have their backs.
Beyond employer benefits programs, Facebook groups tend to focus on social support and advice, and other virtual groups concentrate heavily on the mental health of the mother, because they are more aware of the struggles that postpartum women face. Sometimes, it can be difficult to find the right fit, since you are essentially searching for a friend group that is going through the same phase of life as you.
Unless you had already developed a strong support system for yourself before the baby arrived, navigating these groups can be overwhelming.
These programs and resources focus on the needs and education of the mother in order to aid her in learning and maintaining breastfeeding, because it has long-lasting benefits. Also, they provide information on how to support lactating parents for employers, so they have a better understanding of the resources needed to better support breastfeeding mothers in the workplace.
It’s essential for employers and businesses to participate in supporting parental leave for new parents, because the benefits extend beyond the health of the baby, but also to the mother, the father, and the future productivity of the business.
Conclusion
Our current health-care system is failing new mothers and lactating parents. According to the World Health Organization, 3 in 10 mothers receive no postnatal care whatsoever. It’s vital that the medical industry begins to recognize a greater need to treat women far beyond the first six weeks after giving birth.
When we begin to improve postpartum care for mothers and lactating parents, the health of their children and families will significantly benefit as well.