Showing posts with label postpartum depression. Show all posts
Showing posts with label postpartum depression. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Protecting the Gifts

Over on BlogHer is a wonderful essay by Courtney (storinguptreasures) about body image after having a child and how to instill good body image in our daughters when our own is lacking. This is an issue and idea I struggle with.

 As Aba and I moved into a higher level of infertility treatments I made the decision to start focusing on my health. The bit of weight loss that came with it was wonderful, but I really wanted to feel good about myself. Strong and healthy and with a normal relationship with food so that I could be a role model for my children. Even then I knew that that would be the best way to help my children. I was feeling wonderful and so positive about my goals and I was certain that everything was fine.

Then the reality of being pregnant with triplets hit. I was tired. Walking to and from the car was hard. Doing much of anything was hard. I was forcing myself to eat enough. Decades of eating habits had to be overturned as I struggeled to consume 4,000 calories and enough protein, calcium, whole grains, vegetables, etc. I actually felt pretty wonderful during my pregnancy so I'm not complaining, but it broke those habits I had worked so hard to ingrain.

Then the delivery happened and depression set in. I'm an eater when I'm blue. A loss of faith went along with the depression and as my weight ballooned my self esteem plummeted. I never wanted to be that slovenly and frumpy mom yet that is what I've become.

As my girls hit four I know the time is now. If I wait much longer I will have to fight their self-image issues along with my own. That is something I refuse to do. I don't want to be a size 2. I don't want to have buns of steel. I want to go back to the place I was at in early 2005 when I felt great and was ready to conquer the beast of infertility.

I did that and now I need to protect the gifts that Hashem has given me.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Nursing a NICU Baby (or Two)

Some of you know about my problems breastfeeding the girls despite many efforts and struggle. Despite this I am still 100% pro-breastfeeding and encourage all new moms to do their best for their babies and get good advice from competent lactation consultants and La Leche League.

My friend Celeste recently (has it really been three months!?!) gave birth to twin boys at 32 weeks. She has a wonderful post up on her blog about breastfeeding, dealing with the NICU, preemies and low-supply. I mentioned it in the comments, but here is my addition to what she said.

Be on the lookout for postpartum depression. Have your friends and family aware of the increased risk of ppd with premature births and NICU experiences and get help at the first sign. I can telly ou from experience that you don't want to be near your child's first birthday and learn that their first months of life are shrouded with a black cloud in your memory.