Why a 6-Week Checkup Isn't Enough: Planning Your Postpartum Care!

When you're pregnant, your doctor may advise you to schedule a checkup once a month or more, depending on the health of you and your baby. With more than seven visits on average happening during your pregnancy, it may come as a shock to learn that there is only one checkup recommended after you give birth, and that's six weeks from that delivery date.

But is that really enough care and support for you as a new mom who is experiencing so many changes, both physically and emotionally? Unfortunately, the short answer is no. We experience an incredible number of changes that happen during this time after birth, which is why it’s so important for us to break down what new Moms actually need to ensure you’re feeling your best after giving birth.

What Is Actually Happening During Postpartum?
Before diving in, I wanted to touch a bit on what is happening to your body as a new Mom. Hormonal changes, recovering from delivery, and adjusting to life with a new baby can all take their toll, which is why having one check-up to make sure you’re adjusting well is simply not enough. Many women don't feel their best until about four to six weeks postpartum. It takes a little time for your body to recover from such a big event it just went through. However, we are unique which means what was normal for one woman after birth may be completely different from your experience after birth. Having limited support from your doctor doesn’t help to alleviate any issues or problems you might be facing as a new Mom.

Taking A Lesson From Other Cultures
When I leaped into my passion of supporting mothers in their postpartum journeys, I dove into learning how other cultures approached postpartum. I was shocked at the drastic difference between modern postpartum care in our society and traditional postpartum practices.

In many other cultures around the world, the focus is really placed on ensuring that Mom feels supported and nurtured, while the United States is not doing as much. Did you know that in the USA, 50% to 85% of new moms experience postpartum depression, compared to the 15% to 25% experienced by cultures that integrate more postpartum care. We’re not surprised simply due to the attention and care that new Moms are given in other cultures. Here’s some of the things that they do differently:

Family Members Live With Mom

In many cultures, it is common for family members to live with the new Mom so that she can rest and recover. This also allows for more support in taking care of the baby. Family members might include the grandparents, aunts, close friends, midwife, or a postpartum doula to help maintain balance in the household.

Nourishing Mom With Warm Food And Drinks Is A Priority
It's common in many cultures to provide warm food and drinks to the new Mom. This helps restore energy, replenish fluids, and provide good nutrition as Mom adjusts to her new life. Some commonly eaten foods include soups, broths, rice dishes, stews, and herbal teas.

Self-Care Rituals Are Integrated into Everyday For The Mom
When Mom is left to take care of the baby by herself, she's likely not performing any self-care rituals. However, other cultures require Mom to perform certain postpartum rituals, including:
• Taking a warm bath
• Getting massages
• Washing of the hair
• Binding of the Abdomen

Mandated Rest Time For The Mother
Instead of having to entertain endless guests, many cultures mandate that the new Mom take some time to rest and recover. Enforced bed rest, taking short naps throughout the day, or simply slowing down to allow for healing and limiting the number of guests allowed to visit during that time are common.

Assistance Caring For Older Children
If the new Mom has other children, older siblings are often enlisted to help with caring for the baby. This allows Mom time to rest and recover without worrying about household tasks or taking care of her other children. When Mom is able to take some time for herself, it allows her to heal both physically and emotionally to be the best for her baby.

What Should Be Involved In Your Postpartum Care?
While a six-week postpartum checkup may be the norm in the United States, it's not the best way to adequately support your journey as a new Mom. There are many other cultures that have much better systems in place for supporting postpartum women as we’ve mentioned above. However, just because you’re giving birth in the United States doesn’t mean that you can’t create your dream team to help you get through it in the best way possible. We suggest creating a team of experts who really get it, which may include:

1. Postpartum Doula
A postpartum doula is someone who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to you as a new Mom. They can help with things like breastfeeding, bathing the baby, providing light housework, and whatever another support is needed during this transitional period.

2. Pelvic Floor Therapist
A pelvic floor therapist can help you regain strength in your pelvic floor muscles. This is
important for preventing urinary incontinence and other issues that can occur after childbirth.

3. Lactation Consultant
If you're breastfeeding, it's essential to have a lactation consultant on your team. They can help with things like getting the baby latched on correctly, increasing milk supply, and troubleshooting any issues that may arise.

4. Your Partner
If your partner is willing and able to support you postpartum, that's a huge bonus. They can help with things like taking care of the baby while you rest, getting groceries, and helping with household tasks. Having a game plan with your partner can ensure that you both are able to get the support you need.

5. Family Members
Grandparents, aunts, and close friends can be a massive help in the postpartum period. They can provide emotional support, do light housework, and take care of older siblings while Mom is resting.

6. Friends And Your Local Community
If you don't have any family members who can help, reach out to your friends, and see if anyone is available to come over for a few hours each day. Additionally, local community groups often offer support to new Moms. They can support by helping with housework or delivering meals as needed.

When it comes down to it, it’s essential to make sure you’re taking care of yourself so you can be your best self for your new bundle of joy. We believe it starts by creating the right team around you and ensuring you’re well-supported during the process. If you need additional resources as you head into this journey, check out Elephant Baby, we are dedicated to supporting new Moms, like you, through this beautiful transition in your life!

If you are not 100% confident in the steps you should take to replenish all the nutrients that are lost during childbirth...

If you're unsure of what it takes to come to deep, restorative healing after your baby arrives...

If you want to know what you need to do to avoid coming postpartum issues like hair loss, depression, hormone imbalance, and autoimmune issues...

If you don't feel 100% confident in your postpartum health recovery...

Check out the Postpartum Wellness Revolution Membership - this is an exclusive space for mothers who are working to deeply heal their postpartum bodies--weeks, months and even years after childbirth!

Happy Healing!

xoxo

-Kilah