Colors of postpartum period 

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Naida Salkovic, a young medical doctor from Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

The words postpartum or baby blues is often mentioned as the period that happens after giving birth and most commonly includes mood swings, anxiety, difficulty with sleep and crying. 

In most societies, mental health is still  considered a taboo and is most of the time a topic that is deliberately avoided. Recently, however, mental health is slowly starting to be destigmatized, but considering that this is a broad area, it happens that some aspects of mental health are forgotten.  Thus, the mental health of mothers is one of the most frequently avoided topics. Namely, from the changes the body goes through during pregnancy, childbirth, to all the responsibilities that a new baby brings into the house, it is expected that the mental health of new parents will be impaired. And yet, almost no one talks about it, nor asks mothers how they feel.

Postpartum period is the period when the mother’s body returns to its pre-pregnancy state, which again involves various hormonal changes, the beginning of breastfeeding, but what is important is to understand that the body will never be the same as before. In addition to everything that happens on a physiological level, facing the new role of parent is a challenge that is not easy to overcome. It takes time for a person to adjust to everything that comes with this role, and society does not give enough time for adaptation.

There is a need for a shift to happen in society to understand the importance of the simple question “How are you feeling today?”. This question can create a safe environment in which a mother can share all her doubts, feelings and problems. It is especially important that this is asked in doctor’s offices, and even when it comes to a child’s pediatric examination, because there is no healthy child without a healthy mother.

Therefore, we can all start working on changing ourselves. Ask friends who have become parents, especially mothers, how they are doing, offer help, but also remind them that they are doing a good job and that they need time to get used to and settle into their new role.

It is also necessary to remind mothers that in addition to taking care of their child, they also need to take care of themselves, by 

• eating healthily and drink plenty of water and fluids, 
• being physically active if they can (e.g., a light walk or yoga), 
• and lastly, to make time for themselves, maybe by reading, having a spa time or something similar.

About the author

Naida is a young medical doctor from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Naida has always been an active member of her community, whether as a volunteer at various initiatives and groups or as an organizer herself.  Naida began writing articles over 5 years ago with the objective of teaching others and providing opportunities for them to learn and improve. She is passionate about reforming education, global health and scientific research.