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As a first-time mom-to-be, the biggest question in your head is which crib will look prettier in the nursery? The wooden ones or the white ones? I'm sure you're also having trouble picking out only seven of the ten baby outfits to buy!
But, if you're a single mom, your situation probably goes a little more like this: "Will I have the money to buy a stroller and car seat before the baby is born?"
All the information online for pregnant women seems to be about taking care of yourself during pregnancy. Eating healthy, exercising, writing a birth plan, hiring a doula; but does anyone ever prepare you for the physical complications you may face after? A good gynecologist may do this, but don't even depend on that. Family members and friends are so proud of you because you made it through the delivery; they leave you on your own and say everything is back to normal now. But, pay special attention to the small signs telling you it isn't.
If you are a single mom, the best thing you can do for you and your baby is set up a support team before the baby arrives. Not every woman's body naturally falls back into its pre-pregnancy state. Postpartum thyroid problems and hormone imbalances are way too common. Unfortunately, your gynecologist may never make you aware of these possibilities. If you develop one of these postpartum complications, you may not even recognize it; a strong support person will notice the things you miss.
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Postpartum complications aren't all about depression; but sleep deprivation, a hormone imbalance, or thyroid problem can actually cause it! All of those physical complications can cause a brain fog; add the challenge of being a first-time mother to the list and your thinking is going to get as foggy as an early morning drive on the highway! This is why it is extremely important to have a supportive person with who you regularly communicate; be open with them about anything happening physically or emotionally difficulties you are experiencing. Once you experience severe sleep deprivation, it quickly hinders your ability to make decisions and think clearly; your support person will need to be knowledgeable.
Choosing a support person is like a game of "Red Rover": deciding who you want on your team. The person you pick will ultimately make you stronger or weaker. The only difference is your choice in "Red Rover" results in merely a win or loss; your choice in a support person affects you much more.
For instance, it may not be wise to choose the person who sits through an entire television show and the next day cannot remember anything they watched! Also, someone who is stubborn and makes quick assumptions based on their own knowledge or lack thereof will only want to fight during a crisis. Please do not choose a support person who does not take what you say seriously.
Characteristics of a strong support person are someone who is smart, insightful, researches things, assertive, wants you to succeed, listens, encourages you to face your fears, and takes charge. A strong support person also seeks to understand and will hear what you are saying without making assumptions. A great support person would be someone who thinks for themself and tends to question those in authority rather than blindly accepting something at face value.
You have wanted to be a mother all your life; you had that beautiful baby for a reason. So you could raise her, of course! I want to ensure you can do just that! Here are some of the symptoms both you and your support person should watch for which may indicate a postpartum hormone imbalance or thyroid problem:
o INSOMNIA (Waking up many times during the night for no reason, trouble falling asleep initially, trouble getting back to sleep, or waking early, sudden inability to sleep during the day anymore. Before you were pregnant, it was normal to sleep the whole night through without waking. As long as your baby is sleeping through the night, that is still considered normal! Something else besides your baby is causing you to wake up and that means something isn't right.)
o Frequent urination (don't write this off thinking it is a bladder infection)
o Night sweating (Waking up drenched in sweat)
o Inability to tolerate the cold (Inability to get warm with many blankets, need more winter jackets than those around you in cold weather and still cold, freezing feet at night, always seem to be colder than those around you. Pay extra attention to this if it used to be normal for you to go without a jacket in 50-degree weather)
o Allergies (morning sneezing, runny nose, etc.)
o Pressure in the neck (may feel like swollen glands)
o The neck is tender when someone touches it
o Tight feeling around the neck (You feel the desperate need to pull on your shirt in search of relief though you aren't wearing a turtle neck)
o Lose postpartum weight extremely fast or just rapid weight loss without dieting
o Extremely dry hair (you wonder if you need a new Chi since it isn't making your hair smooth anymore. Here is a clue: It might not be the Chi!)
o Skin suddenly becomes very dry and starts peeling
o Hair loss (Women generally lose hair postpartum. If you are aware of that fact and have a gut feeling you are losing way too much, don't ignore it.) Especially if you are losing so much you're getting bald spots!
o Diarrhea
o FATIGUE
o Bruises
o Memory loss and word-finding difficulty (Continually talking about your baby while calling her another family member's name throughout the course of a day could be a clue! This is a sign of low estrogen or a thyroid problem.)
o Frequent sore throats
o Anxiety
o Depression
o Unusually long or short menstrual cycles
o Pain behind the eyes
o Swollen cheeks/face
o Gaining weight while exercising and eating healthy
o Trouble swallowing
o Brain fog
o Rapid/High Heart Rate
o Trouble making decisions
o Hoarse voice
If you are experiencing any of those symptoms and have a gut feeling something isn't quite right what do you do? Make an immediate appointment with a gynecologist you trust. Also, ask each of your family members if they ever had any difficulties with their thyroid. If so, this is vital information to give your doctor. What else should you do during your visit? Ask if they are skilled in treating thyroid disorders; even slight ones. Insist on full thyroid blood tests and hormone testing.
What is the next step? If your gynecologist tells you everything is normal, find a natural doctor. Your blood tests can show your thyroid is within normal levels but the standard levels may not be your norm. A good doctor who understands the thyroid will acknowledge your symptoms along with your test results.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you just wait to see a doctor until you have insurance coverage; would you wait to take your baby to the doctor if she was sick? Postpartum hormone imbalances and thyroid problems are not to be taken lightly; the symptoms they cause are many and can quickly escalate. Get together with your support person and find a way for you to see the doctor now; the more sleep-deprived you become, the less clear your thinking will be.
Sleep loss should not be brushed off; sometimes the remedy isn't as easy as counting sheep! A postpartum hormone imbalance or thyroid problem can make it impossible for you to sleep nights at a time; leave the support people behind who don't believe something is possible just because they have never heard of it happening before. Especially if they don't take the time or make the effort to do the research to find out if it is possible! Ignorance can easily hinder your health and future.
Krissy Lanni is a writer dedicated to helping make women aware of common postpartum complications. She learned the importance of choosing a quality support team for pregnancy and the postpartum period through very sad and difficult circumstances. Her hope is through sharing her postpartum insomnia experience, struggles, and insight other women will be able to live.
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