Post Pregnancy Care

Having a baby born premature or sick is usually a very different path than what you had expected. When your baby is in a neonatal unit, it can feel like your whole world has been turned upside down.  

At different times you may experience a combination of powerful feelings, such as; fear, love, guilt, elation, anxiety, joy, isolation, pride, sadness, anger, confusion, numbness, disappointment and a range of other emotions. 

Be assured that these are all natural responses to what is a very emotional and stressful time in your life. It is normal to grieve the loss of your dream of a normal pregnancy or healthy baby and all the experiences you were anticipating. 

Your body has gone through a lot and will need time to heal in the weeks ahead. You might feel very tired and the changes in your hormones can cause lots of emotions and mood swings.  

Being separated from your baby can be a painful experience, especially once you are discharged from the maternity ward and need to go home or to closer accommodation if you live far away from the hospital. Most describe the feeling as one of the hardest and most emotional days of their entire neonatal journey. 

The extra demands on your body, energy and time can be hard to manage. You will feel a pull of wanting to spend as much time as possible being close to your baby, but it is important to find a balance between the hours you spend at the neonatal unit and caring for yourself. Include self-care strategies into your daily routine ensuring you are making time to eat healthy and rest so you are able to give your baby the best of you. 

Remember, whilst so much focus and time is being spent caring and being with your baby and possibly other children, you have just had a baby and your post pregnancy care is extremely important for you and your family.   As your baby is receiving specialised medical care, your body also needs time to heal from your pregnancy and birth.  Be kind to yourself and take time to give your body the post pregnancy care it needs that will make such a difference for you in the future.   

Need support? NurtureConnect allows you to connect with our NurtureProgram support team, or call our 24 hour NurtureLine 1300 622 243 or join our Facebook community.

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