| rst time mom-to-be, the biggest question in your head | | | | feel fine without a jacket in 45 degree weather) |
| is which crib will look prettier in the nursery? The | | | | Allergies (morning sneezing, runny nose, etc.) |
| wooden one or the white one? I'm sure you're also | | | | Pressure in neck (may feel like swollen glands) |
| having trouble picking out only seven of the ten baby | | | | Neck is tender when someone touches it |
| outfits to buy! | | | | Lose postpartum weight extremely fast or just |
| But, if you're a single mom, sadly your situation | | | | rapid weight loss without dieting |
| probably goes a little more like this: "Will I have the | | | | Night sweating (Waking up drenched in sweat) |
| money to buy a stroller and car seat before the baby | | | | Dry hair (you wonder if you need a new Chi since it |
| is born?" "If I was having a boy, I wouldn't mind so | | | | isn't making your hair smooth anymore. Here is a clue: |
| much that I am unable to buy cute baby outfits." | | | | IT'S NOT THE CHI!) |
| All the information online for pregnant women seems | | | | Skin suddenly becomes very dry and starts |
| to be about taking care of yourself during pregnancy. | | | | peeling |
| Eating healthy, exercising, writing a birth plan, hiring a | | | | Hair loss (Women generally lose hair postpartum. If |
| doula; but does anyone ever prepare you for the | | | | you are aware of that fact and have a gut feeling you |
| physical complications you may face after? A good | | | | are losing way too much, don't ignore it.) Especially if |
| gynecologist may do this, but don't even depend on | | | | you are losing so much you're getting bald spots! Don't |
| that. Family members and friends are so proud of you | | | | be reassured by your naive family member who tells |
| because you made it through the delivery; they leave | | | | you its normal; she and your 75 year old aunt have |
| you on your own and say everything is back to normal | | | | those bald spots, too. |
| now. But, pay special attention to the small signs telling | | | | Diarrhea |
| you it isn't. | | | | FATIGUE |
| If you are a single mom, the best thing you can do for | | | | Bruises |
| you and your baby is set up a support team before | | | | Memory loss (Continually talking about your baby |
| the baby arrives. Not every woman's body naturally | | | | while calling her another family member's name |
| falls back into its pre-pregnancy state. As I found out | | | | throughout the course of a day is a big clue! Although |
| too late, Postpartum thyroid problems, hormone | | | | this may also be a sign of sleep deprivation.) |
| imbalances, and postpartum depression are way too | | | | Frequent sore throats |
| common. Unfortunately, your gynecologist may never | | | | Anxiety |
| make you aware of these possibilities. If you develop | | | | Depression |
| one of these postpartum complications, you may not | | | | Constant worry about the baby |
| even recognize it; a strong support person will notice | | | | Unusually long or short menstrual cycles |
| the things you miss. | | | | Overly emotional |
| Choosing a support person is like a game of "Red | | | | Pain behind the eyes |
| Rover": deciding who you want on your team. The | | | | Swollen cheeks |
| person you pick will ultimately make you stronger or | | | | Gaining weight while exercising and eating right |
| weaker. The only difference is your choice in "Red | | | | Trouble swallowing |
| Rover" results in merely a win or loss; your choice for | | | | Brain fog |
| a support person effects much more. | | | | Trouble making decisions |
| For instance, it may not be wise to choose the person | | | | Hoarse voice |
| who sits through an entire television show and the | | | | If you are experiencing any of those symptoms and |
| next day cannot remember anything they watched! | | | | have a gut feeling something isn't quite right, don't |
| You may also want to pass on the family member | | | | question what you ate for dinner! Make an immediate |
| who suggested the possibility of a miscarriage after | | | | appointment with a gynecologist you trust. (Please |
| learning of your pregnancy. Someone who is | | | | don't try to treat the imbalance yourself; you don't |
| hardheaded and makes quick assumptions based on | | | | know what hormone your body is definitely lacking or |
| their own knowledge or lack thereof (ignorance) will | | | | in oversupply. This could very easily make things |
| only want to fight during a crisis. | | | | worse.) What should you tell the gynecologist during |
| Characteristics of a strong support person are | | | | your visit? Ask if they are skilled in treating thyroid |
| someone who is smart, insightful, researches things, | | | | disorders: even slight ones! Insist on full thyroid blood |
| assertive, wants you to succeed, listens, encourages | | | | tests, an uptake scan, and hormone testing. The scan |
| you to face your fears, and takes charge. A strong | | | | is important because your blood tests won't always |
| support person also seeks to understand and will hear | | | | show an abnormality. |
| what you are saying without making their own | | | | What is the next step? If your gynecologist tells you |
| assumptions. A great support person would be | | | | everything is normal, ask for a referral to an |
| someone who thinks for himself and tends to question | | | | endocrinologist. Your blood tests can show your |
| those in authority rather than blindly accepting | | | | thyroid is within normal levels but the standard levels |
| something at face value. | | | | may not be your norm. A good endocrinologist will |
| I know you have wanted to be a mother all your life; | | | | acknowledge your symptoms along with your test |
| you had that beautiful baby for a reason. So you could | | | | results. I would also advise asking for an |
| raise her, of course! I want to insure you can do just | | | | antidepressant medication to rule out postpartum |
| that! Here are some of the symptoms both you and | | | | depression. |
| your support person should watch for which may | | | | Don't listen to anyone who tells you just wait to see a |
| indicate a postpartum hormone imbalance or thyroid | | | | doctor until you have insurance coverage; would you |
| problem: | | | | wait to take your baby to the doctor if she was sick? |
| INSOMNIA (Waking up many times during the night, | | | | Hormone imbalances and thyroid problems are not to |
| trouble falling asleep initially, trouble getting back to | | | | be taken lightly; the symptoms they cause are many |
| sleep, or waking early, suddenly inability to take naps | | | | and can quickly escalate. Get together with your |
| anymore. Before you were pregnant, it was normal to | | | | support person and find a way for you to see the |
| sleep the whole night through without waking. As long | | | | doctor now; the more sleep deprived you become, the |
| as your baby isn't the one waking you up in the night, | | | | less clearer your thinking will be. Every difficult situation |
| that is still considered normal! Something else besides | | | | has a creative solution. |
| your baby must be causing you to wake up- and that | | | | Sleep loss should not be brushed off; sometimes the |
| means something isn't right.) | | | | remedy isn't as easy as counting sheep! Sleep is |
| Frequent urination (don't write this off thinking it is | | | | necessary for your mental and physical health. It is also |
| just a bladder infection) | | | | true a postpartum hormone imbalance or thyroid |
| Night sweating (Waking up drenched in sweat) | | | | problem can make it impossible for you to sleep nights |
| Inability to tolerate the cold (Inability to get warm | | | | at a time! Leave the support people behind who don't |
| with many blankets, need more winter jackets than | | | | believe something is possible just because they have |
| those around you in cold weather and still cold, freezing | | | | never heard of it happening to anyone they know. |
| feet at night, always seem to be colder than those | | | | Especially if they don't take the time or make the |
| around you. Pay extra attention to this if you used to | | | | effort to do the research to find out if it is possible! |