If your pregnant your preparing for 2 emergencies - delivary and a disaster. Each by themselves is a very stressful life altering event. Having them back to back could be overwhelming. Pregnancy and Post-pardum will put you at greater risk for severe trauma due to hormone issues, and the fact that you have a little person completely dependent upon you for survival. Since your risk is higher you and your spouse need to be extra vigilant in a disaster in how you cope with the disaster and how you take care of yourself.
There are ways to prepare yourself pyschologically to handle both with less stress and greater confidence. If this is your first pregnancy take infant parenting classes or read a few books, and seek a mentor. Having a baby is a daunting task for any first time parent lacking confidence in caring for a new born, which will only be magnified in a disaster. Prepare now for the changes that are to come to your lifestyle and duties. Offer to watch someone else's baby for a day, or help them so you can learn and get a feel for the schedule and demands. I doubt your offer will be refused.
Pregnant women will have an increased risk of depression. It is even more important for you to take care of yourself. Exercise, eating healthy, and rest are even more important. Be sure to have a support network close by, as post partum is a difficult time in and of itself. These normal symptoms will most likely be commanded by the trauma of the disaster. Familiarize yourself with normal postpartum symptoms – both emotional and physical. It is of greater importance to talk about how your feeling before and after the baby is born. Find out if there is a family history of post-partum depression, as that will put you at greater risk. Post-partum depression can happen anytime withing the first year, sometimes two. If there is a disaster within that time, your risk will increase.
— A sense of disappointment in the baby
— A feeling of anticlimax
— A feeling of unimportance
— Frustration with lack of control
— Overwhelmed and overworked
— Exhaustion
— Feelings of inadequacy
— Doubt ability to nurture your child (especially with breastfeeding difficulties)
— Mourning old self
— Self-esteem and self-image issues
— Anxiety and panic attacks
— Relationship adjustments
What to do
— Drop the guilt, you’re doing fine there are no experts
— SLEEP
— Accept help and ask for it
— Use feeding times as rest times
— Eat heathly - avoid sugar, caffeine
— Cry as much as you like - but if you can't stop getting some help
— Laugh as much as possible (although it may hurt the first few weeks)
— Relaxation techniques
— Do something for yourself - anything by yourself
— Do something as a couple - dating is very important
— Take care of yourself (hygiene and beauty)
— Get out of the house if possible (fresh air, sunshine, and vit D)
— Have a mentor mother or find other new moms
— Exercise - with doctor approval first
— Communicate - talk with friends and family, don't keep it in thinking you'll be judged on how your feeling. You be surprised by how many have felt the same way.
— Talk to your doctor/midwife
— Don’t be afraid to get help if needed
— Do what you can to help in relief efforts but be careful in what you do. Try focusing on giving comfort and emotional support to others rather than the usual clean up and heavy lifting
There are ways to prepare yourself pyschologically to handle both with less stress and greater confidence. If this is your first pregnancy take infant parenting classes or read a few books, and seek a mentor. Having a baby is a daunting task for any first time parent lacking confidence in caring for a new born, which will only be magnified in a disaster. Prepare now for the changes that are to come to your lifestyle and duties. Offer to watch someone else's baby for a day, or help them so you can learn and get a feel for the schedule and demands. I doubt your offer will be refused.
Pregnant women will have an increased risk of depression. It is even more important for you to take care of yourself. Exercise, eating healthy, and rest are even more important. Be sure to have a support network close by, as post partum is a difficult time in and of itself. These normal symptoms will most likely be commanded by the trauma of the disaster. Familiarize yourself with normal postpartum symptoms – both emotional and physical. It is of greater importance to talk about how your feeling before and after the baby is born. Find out if there is a family history of post-partum depression, as that will put you at greater risk. Post-partum depression can happen anytime withing the first year, sometimes two. If there is a disaster within that time, your risk will increase.
Symptoms
—
A sense of disappointment in the
birth or yourself— A sense of disappointment in the baby
— A feeling of anticlimax
— A feeling of unimportance
— Frustration with lack of control
— Overwhelmed and overworked
— Exhaustion
— Feelings of inadequacy
— Doubt ability to nurture your child (especially with breastfeeding difficulties)
— Mourning old self
— Self-esteem and self-image issues
— Anxiety and panic attacks
— Relationship adjustments
What to do
— Drop the guilt, you’re doing fine there are no experts
— SLEEP
— Accept help and ask for it
— Use feeding times as rest times
— Eat heathly - avoid sugar, caffeine
— Cry as much as you like - but if you can't stop getting some help
— Laugh as much as possible (although it may hurt the first few weeks)
— Relaxation techniques
— Do something for yourself - anything by yourself
— Do something as a couple - dating is very important
— Take care of yourself (hygiene and beauty)
— Get out of the house if possible (fresh air, sunshine, and vit D)
— Have a mentor mother or find other new moms
— Exercise - with doctor approval first
— Communicate - talk with friends and family, don't keep it in thinking you'll be judged on how your feeling. You be surprised by how many have felt the same way.
— Talk to your doctor/midwife
— Don’t be afraid to get help if needed
— Do what you can to help in relief efforts but be careful in what you do. Try focusing on giving comfort and emotional support to others rather than the usual clean up and heavy lifting
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