After the baby comes, everything changes. Everything. How you sleep, (or don't sleep)--how you cope with the normal activities of life-- suddenly everything may be more complicated, since caring for a baby, and especially breastfeeding a newborn baby- can seem to take up all day. In the view of Chinese medicine, a great deal of life force, or "chi" has been spent in pregnancy, building a baby, and in the birth process. Even when the birth has gone perfectly normally and smoothly, this is a wise view. Think of your energy supply like a bank account that has run a quite low balance...you should not spend it on unimportant things! All most women should try to manage for at least 2 weeks is to breastfeed their baby and get a shower each day. (Even this may not be possible each day!) Getting enough rest is key to a good recovery, and extreme fatigue and lack of sleep can contribute significantly toward postpartum depresson. REST!!

Suggestions:
*For at least the first 2 weeks, try to "make your camp" on one level of your home, and stay there for the whole day: get your phone, a water pitcher, a pile of diapers, TV remote or a book, and rest on a bed our couch. Avoid running up & down the stairs, running errands, or doing laundry!
*Do not expect your life, your house, or your appearance to be what it was "before baby." Remember, everything is under revision and will find a new balance in time. Things may be in chaos for a while, try to accept and tolerate that.
*After the first 2 weeks, it may help to choose ONE thing that to you, represents tidiness, and do just that, each day -- it could be having the bed made, or one load of wash run, or one load in the dishwasher.
*Allow your friends and family to help you. Get all the naps you can. 3 hours of sleep will feel like a million dollars!
*Do not pick up heavy toddlers and carry them around, or you are likely to bleed more. Instead, sit down and let them climb onto your lap, or even sit down on the floor and let them get into your arms.

Now: LCM MOMs & Dads; What pearls of wisdom can you offer a brand new postpartum family? Let's see who can send in their best pearls" to share on our blog!!
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Here are some varied resources that can help ease the journey -- we recently added them to our "links" section of the website as well. Information is power!
Core Values LLC
Leslie McKeough, LCSW
Postpartum/Perinatal, Adolescent & Family Therapist
Offers a postpartum support group and individual counseling
www.corevalu.com
703-909-9877

Mommy Relief:
an agency that will send out experienced helpers, providing light housekeeping, newborn and sibling care in your home, at an hourly rate.
www.mommy-relief.com
703-532-MOMS (6667)

Staffing Solutions: Mothers Aides
Referral agency for Household & baby-care helpers, screened by a 12-step process
www.mystaffingsolutions.com
703-250-0700

PostPartum Doulas
www.dona.org