Today we are talking about fears surrounding the postpartum period. Fears you may have after giving birth and fears you may have now that you are responsible for this actual tiny person.

The pressure can be overwhelming.

Pregnancy and childbirth come with their own sets of fears and anxieties. But you will face a lot of expectations and challenges as you step into your new role as parent.

Adjusting to your new life

One of the biggest fears new parents face is if they can handle everything that comes along with parenting a new baby and maintain their previous life.

Taking on this new role seems impossible at first but as the days go on you learn, heal and grow and you step confidently in your new role.

A good way to combat this fear is to reach out to your village or network of family, friends and community resources. Talk to parents who have been through it before, listen to their stories.

Do not be turned off by things they say that may scare you. Instead, anticipate how you might handle a similar situation yourself and gather information that will help you feel prepared to face that obstacle.

Recovering from Pregnancy and Childbirth

Many birthing parents have fears surrounding their physical recovery from pregnancy and childbirth. Parents who have a particularly challenging labor or delivery or give birth via cesarean face a slightly different set of fears.

You may be worried about your postpartum bleeding or how an incision is healing or whether a medication will affect breastfeeding. Many birthing parents wonder “is this normal?” and “When should I call my doctor?”

A trained birth profession like a postpartum doula knows normal recovery and when you should definitely call your care provider. A postpartum doula will also encourage you to follow your intuition and can also provide tips and tricks to help your recovery go smoother.

The Baby Blues and Postpartum Depression

You may have heard of the baby blues or know someone who has experienced the weepy moments that many new parents have. This is common and usually dissipates after a few days or weeks.

A huge fear that you might have is fear that you could get postpartum depression. Or that you will be seen as a bad parent if you ask for help. You may have fears about having to see a therapist or take medication or that people might treat you differently if you show symptoms. You may even be afraid that you might hurt your baby.

Many new parents do experience the baby blues and they usually dissipate shortly. For others the possibility of developing a postpartum mood disorder is very real.

11-20% of birthing Americans deal with symptoms of postpartum mood disorders. And that’s only those that have reported their symptoms and does not include parents who experienced miscarriage or stillbirth. There are many more struggling in silence.

The good news is that a postpartum doula is trained in caring specifically for the postpartum parent and is very familiar with normal postpartum healing and recovery.

This professional care provider is trained to recognize symptoms of postpartum mood disorders and can provide you with resources and support to get the help you need.

You are not alone

As a new parent you will experience different fears as you transition into your new role. But you are not alone on this journey.

Reach out to your partner, doctor, midwife or The Prima Doula for support if you find your attention focused on those fears.

Getting the real help you need and increased confidence are just some of the benefits of postpartum doula support. Inviting a postpartum doula into your home can be a huge source of comfort and reassurance.

Knowing you have evidence based, non-judgmental support from your doula will allow you to feel relaxed and confident during your postpartum period.