The puerperium from a psychological point of view
The period of the puerperium is always marked by moments of anxiety and fear , given the load of commitments and responsibilities that await the couple. However, for the mother, the return to the best physical and psychological balance is slow, also because the child occupies and absorbs much of the energy, so there is little time left to rest.
In this period both as a result of these new commitments and for the collateral physical and hormonal state, moments of intense melancholy and anguish will be possible with sudden and apparently unmotivated bursts of crying . Furthermore, even simple family chores may seem exceedingly difficult.
Temporary time
It is important to know that this is a normal transition period.
This depression has several explanations (neurological and endocrine/hormonal) that accompany the need to adapt to the new situation.
However, it must be kept in mind that the child no longer belongs to the mother, he is a being who has his own individuality, even if he needs help.
“A CHILD IS NOT A PARENTS’ PRIVATE PROPERTY, NOR A TOY TO BE USED”
Another fact that can affect depression is the feeling of no longer being the center of attention, as during pregnancy, when you were surrounded by care and attention from close people.
Of course, the responsibility of caring for a child is considerable and one often has the fear of not being up to the situation: caring for a child is something that one learns gradually.
The needs of the child
But what does the child need now, how should the parents behave?
This is a point at which it is difficult to provide unambiguous indications as each person, each couple, is structured in a different way. Here are some points that each couple can use as they see fit:
- The psychic state of the child, after birth, is one of extreme insecurity: he feels that he has entered a new world that offers him multiple more or less intense and different stimulations with which he has to cope. For the child, the mother represents the indispensable pole for finding protection and reassurance that will help him overcome the fears and difficulties of the world around him. Body contact (skin-to-skin) is important, as it renews the delicacy and sweetness of intrauterine life for the baby.
- The child has remarkable psycho-sensory abilities and is able to grasp the mood of the parents . He feels he is loved and protected and is able, however, to capture the feelings of aggression and rejection to which he promptly reacts (crying, physical and muscular stiffness, aggression, refusal to eat).
- The ideal condition for the balanced development of the child, in all its spheres, is the behavioral model provided by the parents. The child needs to perceive a solid couple relationship, that the parents love and respect each other, therefore the individual values of the single parents are not enough, but the child receives security, affection and balance, through the unity of the couple
- It is necessary to ensure that the child behaves coherently on an educational level ; it is important in any case to establish certain limits in a clear and simple way, so as not to create confusion.
THE ESSENTIAL IS THAT THE PARENTS HAVE A LIFE AS HARMONIOUS AND SERENE AS POSSIBLE, FULL OF VALUES THEY DEEPER SHOULD CULTIVATE.
Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.
Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.