| As a first time mom-to-be, the biggest question in your | | | | trouble falling asleep initially, trouble getting back to |
| head is which crib will look prettier in the nursery? The | | | | sleep, or waking early, suddenly inability to take naps |
| wooden one or the white one? I'm sure you're also | | | | anymore. Before you were pregnant, it was normal to |
| having trouble picking out only seven of the ten baby | | | | sleep the whole night through without waking. As long |
| outfits to buy! | | | | as your baby is sleeping through the night, that is still |
| But, if you're a single mom, sadly your situation | | | | considered normal! Something else besides your baby |
| probably goes a little more like this: "Will I have the | | | | is causing you to wake up- and that means something |
| money to buy a stroller and car seat before the baby | | | | isn't right.)o Frequent urination (don't write this off |
| is born?" | | | | thinking it is a bladder infection)o Night sweating |
| All the information online for pregnant women seems | | | | (Waking up drenched in sweat)o Inability to tolerate the |
| to be about taking care of yourself during pregnancy. | | | | cold (Inability to get warm with many blankets, need |
| Eating healthy, exercising, writing a birth plan, hiring a | | | | more winter jackets than those around you in cold |
| doula; but does anyone ever prepare you for the | | | | weather and still cold, freezing feet at night, always |
| physical complications you may face after? A good | | | | seem to be colder than those around you. Pay extra |
| gynecologist may do this, but don't even depend on | | | | attention to this if it used to be normal for you to go |
| that. Family members and friends are so proud of you | | | | without a jacket in 50 degree weather)o Allergies |
| because you made it through the delivery; they leave | | | | (morning sneezing, runny nose, etc.)o Pressure in neck |
| you on your own and say everything is back to normal | | | | (may feel like swollen glands)o Neck is tender when |
| now. But, pay special attention to the small signs telling | | | | someone touches ito Lose postpartum weight |
| you it isn't. | | | | extremely fast or just rapid weight loss without |
| If you are a single mom, the best thing you can do for | | | | dietingo Dry hair (you wonder if you need a new Chi |
| you and your baby is set up a support team before | | | | since it isn't making your hair smooth anymore. Here is |
| the baby arrives. Not every woman's body naturally | | | | a clue: It might not be the Chi!)o Skin suddenly |
| falls back into its pre-pregnancy state. Postpartum | | | | becomes very dry and starts peelingo Hair loss |
| thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, and postpartum | | | | (Women generally lose hair postpartum. If you are |
| depression are way too common. Unfortunately, your | | | | aware of that fact and have a gut feeling you are |
| gynecologist may never make you aware of these | | | | losing way too much, don't ignore it.) Especially if you |
| possibilities. If you develop one of these postpartum | | | | are losing so much you're getting bald spots!o |
| complications, you may not even recognize it; a strong | | | | Diarrheao FATIGUEo Bruiseso Memory loss |
| support person will notice the things you miss. | | | | (Continually talking about your baby while calling her |
| Postpartum complications aren't all about depression; | | | | another family member's name throughout the course |
| but sleep deprivation, a hormone imbalance, or thyroid | | | | of a day could be a clue! Although this may also be a |
| problem can actually cause it! All of those physical | | | | sign of sleep deprivation.)o Frequent sore throatso |
| complications can cause a brain fog; add the challenge | | | | Anxietyo Depressiono Unusually long or short |
| of being a first time mother to the list and your thinking | | | | menstrual cycleso Overly emotionalo Pain behind the |
| is going to get as foggy as an early morning drive on | | | | eyeso Swollen cheekso Gaining weight while |
| the highway! This is why it is extremely important to | | | | exercising and eating righto Trouble swallowingo Brain |
| have a supportive person who you regularly | | | | fogo Trouble making decisionso Hoarse voice |
| communicate with; be open with them about anything | | | | If you are experiencing any of those symptoms and |
| happening physically or emotional difficulties you are | | | | have a gut feeling something isn't quite right what do |
| experiencing. Once you experience sleep deprivation, it | | | | you do? Make an immediate appointment with a |
| quickly hinders your ability to make decisions and think | | | | gynecologist you trust. Also ask each of your family |
| clearly; your support person will need to be | | | | members if they ever had any difficulties with their |
| knowledgeable. | | | | thyroid. If so, this is important information to give your |
| Choosing a support person is like a game of "Red | | | | doctor. What else should you tell them during your |
| Rover": deciding who you want on your team. The | | | | visit? Ask if they are skilled in treating thyroid disorders; |
| person you pick will ultimately make you stronger or | | | | even slight ones. Insist on full thyroid blood tests, an |
| weaker. The only difference is your choice in "Red | | | | uptake scan, and hormone testing. The scan is |
| Rover" results in merely a win or loss; your choice in a | | | | important because your blood tests won't always |
| support person effects much more. | | | | show an abnormality. |
| For instance, it may not be wise to choose the person | | | | What is the next step? If your gynecologist tells you |
| who sits through an entire television show and the | | | | everything is normal, ask for a referral to an |
| next day cannot remember anything they watched! | | | | endocrinologist. Your blood tests can show your |
| You may also want to pass on the family member | | | | thyroid is within normal levels but the standard levels |
| who suggested the possibility of a miscarriage after | | | | may not be your norm. A good endocrinologist will |
| learning of your pregnancy. Also, someone who is | | | | acknowledge your symptoms along with your test |
| hardheaded and makes quick assumptions based on | | | | results. I would also advise asking for an |
| their own knowledge or lack thereof (ignorance) will | | | | antidepressant medication to rule out postpartum |
| only want to fight during a crisis. Please do not choose | | | | depression. |
| a support person who does not take what you say | | | | Don't listen to anyone who tells you just wait to see a |
| seriously. | | | | doctor until you have insurance coverage; would you |
| Characteristics of a strong support person are | | | | wait to take your baby to the doctor if she was sick? |
| someone who is smart, insightful, researches things, | | | | Hormone imbalances and thyroid problems are not to |
| assertive, wants you to succeed, listens, encourages | | | | be taken lightly; the symptoms they cause are many |
| you to face your fears, and takes charge. A strong | | | | and can quickly escalate. Get together with your |
| support person also seeks to understand and will hear | | | | support person and find a way for you to see the |
| what you are saying without making their own | | | | doctor now; the more sleep deprived you become, the |
| assumptions. A great support person would be | | | | less clearer your thinking will be. |
| someone who thinks for them self and tends to | | | | Sleep loss should not be brushed off; sometimes the |
| question those in authority rather than blindly accepting | | | | remedy isn't as easy as counting sheep! A postpartum |
| something at face value. | | | | hormone imbalance or thyroid problem can make it |
| You have wanted to be a mother all your life; you had | | | | impossible for you to sleep nights at a time; leave the |
| that beautiful baby for a reason. So you could raise | | | | support people behind who don't believe something is |
| her, of course! I want to insure you can do just that! | | | | possible just because they have never heard of it |
| Here are some of the symptoms both you and your | | | | happening before. Especially if they don't take the time |
| support person should watch for which may indicate a | | | | or make the effort to do the research to find out if it is |
| postpartum hormone imbalance or thyroid problem:o | | | | possible! Ignorance is egotistical and can easily hinder |
| INSOMNIA (Waking up many times during the night, | | | | your health and future. |