Changing the Face of Postpartum

There's an unsettling reality to Postpartum here....Moms who aren't clinically depressed, but are barely functioning.  I call them the "walking wounded" and I see them everywhere.  Often they're blaming themselves for not being able to do it all alone...when it is absolutely our culture that is to blame.

To see significant change, these 4 keys need to be addressed:

1--Postpartum Awareness:
Postpartum recovery is as serious as surgical recovery....Often trickier because women are waking frequently to care for their babies, and possibly other children, too.  Finally, America could join the rest of the world in understanding that women need time to rest and recuperate after birth.  Naturally, they may be more sensitive and people should be considerate in their appoach (NOT critical!).    

2--Support:
Connection with positive, helpful groups and access to evidence-based information--both in-person and online.  

3--Six Weeks of Meals, Household Help, and Child Care:
Seriously.  I do not care if it's provided by health insurance, co-operatives, relatives, or some sort of community Postpartum Doula Program....As long as it's considerate to the individual family's needs, I'll take it!  At minimum, we need 3 weeks of complete reprieve and 2-3 weeks of partial help.

4--Paid Maternity & Paternity Leave For All.

Honestly, this wouldn't fix everything, but how much easier would your experience have been with these 4 changes?  This is what I'm hoping and working for, because the best thing we can do for babies is nurture their moms. <3