Pregnancy is supposed to be a blissful time for mothers, so if you have recently gone through a traumatic birthing experience, it's understandable that you will need time to recover. It can often be difficult to manage the day-to-day life of caring for a newborn child whilst recovering from a traumatic birth, so consider the three tips below to help you overcome this difficult experience:

Take Time to Mourn Your Dream Birth

Pregnancy is an extremely emotional time, and every woman has dreams about her ideal birth. Of course you wish that every birth will be perfect, and if you've gone through a traumatic birth, it can be deeply upsetting. This grief isn't helped by the fact that your hormones are extremely sensitive after giving birth, so you need to take the time to come to terms with the traumatic birth.

In order to overcome your sadness, you need to address it. Many mothers feel guilt because they are sad after a traumatic birth experience. They feel that they have no right to be sad because they have a healthy baby regardless of how he or she was born. But looking at it from this perspective means that you add a great deal of emotional baggage to what is already a difficult time. Rather, you should tackle your emotions head-on by first acknowledging that they are real and valid. Allowing yourself time to grieve after this deeply stressful time will help you overcome your experience.

Take Care of Yourself

When you have a newborn baby, it can be extremely difficult to get a good meal and solid night's rest. However, when you are recovering from a traumatic birth, it is imperative that you take proper care of yourself. You can't look after your newborn child if you aren't looking after yourself, so you need to have a plan in place to look after your mind and body.

The first thing to do is ensure that you have a nutritious meal plan and aren't consuming processed foods and foods that are high in sugar. This is true after any birth, but, particularly after a traumatic birthing event, you do not want your blood sugar to spike, as this will have a negative effect in your mood.

You also need to ensure that you take enough time to rest. You should ask for help from your family to allow you to rest during the day. However, even when you are looking after your newborn, you need to take time to calm yourself down and relax. Meditation is a great way to do this. You don't have to meditate for a long period of time, but taking 10 or 15 minutes to slow your breathing and focus in on your senses can be a great way to calm your nervous system.

Share Your Story

In addition to taking time to reflect on your birthing experience, one of the best ways to get rid of any negative emotions is to talk through them with someone else. Speaking to others after any traumatic event is a very liberating experience that can help you become more at peace with yourself.

The first people you will want to speak to will be your partner and close family, which is completely understandable. However, if you feel comfortable enough, you should consider speaking to a professional who has expertise in helping mothers recovering following a birth trauma. If you feel like you need to speak with others who have gone through the same thing as you, ask the hospital if there are any classes that you can attend. This may be difficult at first, but oftentimes people find a deep connection with others who know exactly how you feel.  

If you have any questions about caring for your newborn, contact a pediatrician at a medical office such as Willow Oak Pediatrics.