New Moms Deserve More Support for Post-Cesarean Pain & Postpartum Depression
The first few months of new motherhood can be overwhelming. You’re not sleeping, you’re still healing from childbirth and often surgery, and you’re adjusting to complete upheaval in your day-to-day life. These challenges can intensify if you’re putting pressure on yourself to be grateful and enjoy every precious moment. Coping with issues like post-cesarean pain and postpartum depression starts with giving yourself permission to admit that you’re struggling and need to look for help. These problems are only compounded by the ongoing pandemic, leaving new moms feeling isolated and stuck.
It may help to know just how common these problems are. As many as 80% of new mothers may experience what doctors call “the baby blues,” or a short-term dip in mood related to poor sleep and hormone fluctuation. Between 10 and 20% of new mothers suffer from clinical postpartum depression. The risk is higher for women who’ve experienced depression, anxiety, or another mood disorder before becoming pregnant.
Women who have C-sections are also at risk of experiencing chronic post-surgery pain. About 18% of women were still experiencing mild pain even when at rest three months after their surgery, while 11% were still feeling near-constant pain six months after surgery. The risk of chronic post-surgery pain tends to be higher for women who report more severe pain immediately after surgery, as well as for women whose surgeries lasted longer.
Pain and depression are also linked. Women who experience depression before a C-section are at higher risk for chronic pain afterwards. And women who experience severe pain immediately after a C-section are at significantly higher risk of postpartum depression.
Mental and physical health is intertwined. If you’re experiencing pain that keeps you from doing your normal activities or caring for your baby the way you’d like to, it’s only natural that your mood will be affected. And your mood can affect your experience of pain, as well — if you’re depressed or anxious, you may be more likely to dwell on your feelings of pain, and less likely to do the kinds of gentle physical activity that will gradually help your body recover.
Since mental and physical health are so closely linked, it’s important to address both when managing your care. Consult your doctor if you’re troubled by any of your symptoms, whether physical or emotional. It’s important to keep in mind that severe pain after a C-section is never considered normal, and is always something you should talk to your doctor about. Pain that doesn’t improve or that gets worse after you leave the hospital is also a red flag.
Similarly, just because ‘baby blues’ are common doesn’t mean you should ignore symptoms of depression. If your mood doesn’t improve within two weeks after birth, if your depression seems to be getting worse, or if you’re struggling to care for yourself or your child, you should contact your doctor right away.
There’s no shame in needing extra support as a new mom. In fact, getting help and emotional support is probably the best way to speed your recovery, both physically and emotionally. Particularly if you’ve had a C-section, which is a major surgery, you’ll need to take it easy in the weeks after your baby’s birth. Gentle movement like walking can help you recover more quickly, but you shouldn’t be exercising or doing chores around the house.
As you recover, whether or not you’ve had a C-section, aim to get as much rest as you possibly can. You’ll get tired of hearing you should “sleep when the baby sleeps,” but it is true that a nap will always be better for your physical and mental health than putting in a load of laundry or tidying up the baby’s toys. Find safe ways to connect with family and friends, whether that’s by talking on the phone or going for a walk through the neighborhood. Getting outside will help your mood — even if you haven’t showered.
You will need therapy to recover well from giving birth and become the mother you want to be. Some of that is practical — especially in those first weeks, you’ll need help from a partner, family, or friends. But you’ll also need emotional support. Talking to other moms can be enormously helpful during this transitional time. Reach out to other moms you know, or look for a support group where you can talk about what you’re experiencing with other new moms who can relate.
Skyler Health offers online counseling for new moms, including moms who’ve had C-sections, to talk about their physical and emotional challenges and access support. These groups are all online, completely confidential, and led by trained therapists who can teach healthy coping strategies — and identify red flags that should lead someone to seek more individual help from their doctor or a Skyler Health counselor. Whether you’re struggling with ‘baby blues’ that won’t go away or coping with more severe physical pain than you expected, talking to other moms like you can help. Reach out and get the support you need today.
