I think Charles Dickens said it best when he wrote the opening line to A Tale of Two Cities:
”It was the best of times; it was the worst of times … ”.
This line quite aptly describes the postpartum rollercoaster.
It can be bloody tough!
On the one hand, you’re enjoying your beautiful baby and all of her milestones — and embracing everything that becoming a mumma has to offer.
That and filling up your iPhone with countless adorable baby pics 🙂
On the other, you’re dealing with incredible sleep deprivation and overwhelming exhaustion, separation anxiety, mood swings and let’s not forget the wild hormonal rollercoaster.
It’s a wild time for sure, and certainly not all peaches and cream.
My postpartum rollercoaster
I recently came across a post on Instagram by @mother.ly linking to an article on their website, that caught my attention with the statement:
“More than 1 in 3 women have lasting health problems after giving birth, study finds.”
“Incredible,” I thought. “I’m not alone.”
The post, and subsequently the article, caught my attention because for at least 6 weeks prior to coming across said post I had been dealing with some significant digestive issues — specifically what was thought initially to be acid reflux that seemingly came out of nowhere at about 3-4 months postpartum.
And here I was thinking that getting the hang of breastfeeding was going to be my biggest postpartum challenge. Ha!
For those interested, the article explores some poignant issues that women face after giving birth and discussed the issue of medical follow-up and ongoing health checks in the postpartum period and beyond. (Click here)
I mean, how is it that we have monthly or 6-weekly (and then even weekly) appointments with the OBGYN during pregnancy and then just one follow up appointment — in my case at 2 weeks post c-section to make sure the c-section wound was healing — post birth?!
RIDICULOUS!!
“Many postpartum conditions cause considerable suffering in women’s daily life long after birth, both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognized, and underreported,” said Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, who was not involved in the study.
“Throughout their lives, and beyond motherhood, women need access to a range of services from health-care providers who listen to their concerns and meet their needs—so they not only survive childbirth but can enjoy good health and quality of life.” (Click here to read the full article)
A little about acid reflux
Side stepping for a second, a little bit about acid reflux …
Acid reflux is when the contents of your stomach — which can also include stomach acid — regurgitate or go back up the oesophagus to your throat causing pain (aka heartburn) and irritation.
The symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Heartburn – a burning pain/discomfort that moves up your oesophagus to your throat.
- A sour or bitter taste in your mouth from acid flowing back into your throat and mouth.
- Regurgitation of food back up the oesophagus.
- A globus sensation- a feeling of a lump in your throat.
- Difficulty swallowing.
- Pain when swallowing.
- Nausea/vomiting.
Common causes of acid reflux include:
- Weight – being overweight/obese.
- Older age.
- Smoking.
- Eating large meals.
- Eating too close to bedtime.
- Eating foods that are high in fat or spicy.
- Eating certain foods such as tomato, pineapple and citrus.
- Certain beverages — coffee/tea, alcohol, carbonated drinks (i.e. soft drinks, sparkling mineral water).
- Stress and anxiety.
- Pregnancy.
- Issues with the lower oesophageal sphincter (i.e. when it becomes loose or doesn’t close properly).
Acid reflux is common in pregnancy and is thought to be caused in part by hormonal changes.
Extra pressure from the growing uterus and foetus is also thought to contribute to acid reflux by putting extra pressure on the lower sphincter, causing acid to go back up where it’s not supposed to go!
It’s thought that the hormone progesterone is responsible here because “it can relax the sphincter muscle that connects the oesophagus to the stomach”.
Managing acid reflux involves a combination of diet and lifestyle measures (weight loss, healthy eating, avoiding alcohol, cutting back on coffee/tea etc.) and medical intervention — namely various acid reducing medications.
Looking after mumma
I’ve always been an advocate for following up with Dr’s — speaking up for yourself — and getting to the bottom of any health issues that crop up.
Probably a little too much of an advocate here *facepalm* — I tend do a little too much Googling … and we all know how reliable Dr Google is!
So, when my postpartum acid reflux came up, I made sure to seek medical advice as soon as I could get an appointment, especially because over-the-counter medications weren’t quite resolving my symptoms.
Since then, I’ve had various tests, including blood tests, an abdominal ultrasound to rule out gall stones and an endoscopy — I had the best sleep I’ve had in months during the endoscopy! — and have been put on various acid reducing medications.
Thankfully, aside from a slightly loosened lower oesophageal sphincter, all tests have come back normal, and Dr’s have concluded this is likely all due to pregnancy and breastfeeding hormones, and that once my hormones normalise and I finish breastfeeding things should get back to normal.
Bloody hormones!
So, while things could have been worse — and trust me, all of this has caused a great deal of anxiety (which, I know, I know, doesn’t help acid reflux!), it goes to show how much women need — and would benefit from — regular health checks and follow up in the postpartum period … BEYOND merely a 2-week follow-up to check that a wound is healing correctly!
I mean, if nothing else, it’d be nice to know what’s normal and what’s not in terms of health concerns in the postpartum period without having to rely on Dr Google!
Back to Dickens
In the infamous opening paragraph of A Tale of Two Cities, Charles Dickens continues:
“… it was the age of wisdom; it was the age of foolishness …”
With experience comes wisdom and if this experience has taught me anything it’s the need for better access to healthcare and follow-up in the postpartum period and a better understanding of what can happen to a woman’s body after she gives birth.
Because at the end of the day, the health of a baby is primarily reliant on the health of a mumma!
x G.
editor, journalist, digital content creator with a background in nutrition & dietetics.
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