Audrey is a registered nurse in France and a perinatal clinician in Canada. She has been working with children and mothers for most of her life, and is passionate about her profession. Over the course of her career, Audrey has explored many fields, including neonatology. In 2017, she founded the Happy Mum & Baby Center, a perinatal center accessible worldwide thanks to the teleconsultation concept. In this podcast, we'll discuss topics such as matrescence, postpartum, returning to work and the expectations parents may have.
The postpartum period, often overlooked, is a crucial phase that follows childbirth, extending until the return of menstruation, also known as the return from childbirth. This period varies from woman to woman, making the postpartum period as unique as each individual. In this article, we'll explore what postpartum really is, how to prepare for it, and how to mitigate the potential effects on both the body and the psyche.
What is postpartum?
The postpartum period, scientifically known as the puerperium, is marked by significant physiological upheaval after childbirth. The way in which each woman experiences it depends on various factors, such as her personal history and the conditions surrounding motherhood. The intensity of this inner change can be unpredictable, impacting each new mother differently.
Preparing for Postpartum
Postpartum preparation can seem difficult, as it's impossible to fully anticipate the effects of childbirth on the body and mind. However, visualizing yourself as a mother and questioning your expectations can contribute to effective psychological preparation. Rather than inundating yourself with potentially anxiety-provoking information, it's advisable to question yourself about your current confidence, your own history, and your family relationships. This introspection will enable you to prepare yourself in a more solid and personalized way.
Understanding Psychic Impact
The birth of a child and the post-partum period can have a considerable influence on a woman's emotional state. It's essential to question your own expectations, avoid idealizing the period, and become aware of your relationship with yourself. Rather than passively undergoing the changes, internal communication and self-understanding are powerful tools for anticipating and psychologically managing this transitional phase.
Avoiding baby blues
Differentiating postpartum from the emotional state known as baby blues is crucial. Postpartum encompasses physiological changes, which may or may not affect mood. Baby blues, on the other hand, manifests itself as emotional fragility due to hormonal decline. Progesterone decreases, giving way to an increase in oxytocin, leading to hormonal changes. Understanding these differences is essential to anticipating and mitigating the emotional aspects of the post-partum period.
In conclusion, the postpartum period is a complex but natural phase in a woman's life. By actively preparing, questioning and understanding her own experience, every new mother can approach this period with greater confidence and serenity. Let's not forget that every experience is unique, and a personalized approach to overcoming postpartum challenges is crucial.
How do you manage work and family life?
Handling the multiple roles of a newly fulfilled mother is no easy task. You have to juggle a totally dependent newborn with a new maternal identity in the making. The internal challenges of this experience are complex, and reconciling these changes with professional responsibilities can create a destabilizing ambivalence in the maternal role. Time is often short, and juggling professional demands with personal emotions creates constant tension. This maternal ambivalence can lead to a persistent state of unease, sometimes followed by career changes.
Are you becoming a mother right away?
Motherhood is gradually established by meeting the child's needs, gaining confidence and discovering oneself as an active mother. Changing a diaper becomes a meaningful act, reinforcing self-confidence: "I've done it, I'm capable, I'm meeting my baby's needs." This physiological process of motherhood takes place over a period of up to two or three years. It's an internal transformation with its share of storms, rearrangements, upheavals and mood disorders. Becoming a mother can sometimes mean mourning an old personality, past projects and a different future. It's by evolving alongside your child that motherhood is forged.
Elia takes part in the Parental Challenge
At Elia, we took part in the Parental Challenge, introducing measures within the company to support our employees in their professional and personal development. This involves accompanying our employees in their evolution at work and in the company, and guiding them towards a transition or a change of mission if necessary. Becoming a mother represents an earthquake in personal and professional life, and at Elia we're here to support our employees along the way.
Shall we keep in touch?