the black hole in health care

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This conversation is with a couple mothers in Albuquerque, NM area

local forum. Names removed to honor them, here is a piece of what is

an all too common experience. The moms in the discussion are

postpartum 6-12 months with their 5th and 9th babies, and wondering

what is going on. I asked what one was doing for herself after three

children under 5 plus the others. I was afraid my long winded

response would turn her off, but the everyday words created

gratefulness at being understood -

 

> Nothing actually I have been fighting PPD for 3 years now and this

> past 6 months i am progressivly getting worse. I do make myself get ...

> no car) I have PMDD which was being taken care of with low dose

> zoloft and i could feel the horrible 4 days coming on. Now it is

more often like more then half the month. The big doom and gloom

feels like there is no hope kind of feeling.

 

> Hey L... and A....,

> let's bet there are a few more like you on this little list, 'cause

> the stats are unbelievable. Actually, you aren't among the most

> recent stat's I got last week - NM is top in the nation amongst

first time moms at 40% PPD. Talk about serious epidemic proportions,

that's clinically reporteds, right? The docs and midwives alike,

bless them, don't know what's going on with postpartum needs so it is

a limp along scene for sure. Can't really blame anyone, we are such a

do it yourself and actually, recently founded/pioneer based culture

that did not bring with it the wisdom accumulated from centuries.

>

> Lots of folks don't discern between the different " mood disorders "

as they are called now...there's truth in that but not from the right

> quarter. IE, the root cause accordng to Ayurvedic medicine for

nearly all of them even though diff symptoms can be discerned is

similar biological/qualitative conditions, the likes of which every

woman experiences after birth. like -

 

dryness, depletions of precious fluids and hormonal juiciness,

pain, aches, tissue tears,

fatigue, burn out

a digestive fire that is " blown out " ,

emptiness,

neurological and spatial slippy slidies that translate into

confusions, gaps, spaciness, forgetfulness, irregularities of physical

and mental function, constipation, gas, doubt, fear etc too easily.

>

> That's not counting the 24/7 on call duties. Some have setup for it

> causing more problems due to body type or other conditions. And

those who experience problems as well as those who don't are not

educated in what is needed to prevent it.

>

> consider this - you just did the biggest labor of your life, not

only on the amazing physical side but bridging the veil to bring a

soul through to join us on the physical plane. WOW, it is AMAZING!

AND ALL TISSUES AND SYSTEMS ARE IN A STATE OF TRANSITION, for at least

6 weeks, at least 8 after a C-birth.

 

>I've been given to understand, and see how true it is over the years,

that psychophysiologically a newly delivered mom is a delicate as her

baby during that time, even if we have will power, get up and do it

somehow, ability to walk talk and all the do it skills, we are still

so vulnerable.

>

> AND There is awesome good news...because our heart is so involved,

so wide open in unconditional service and love (to the extent we are

not suffering and so divided inside we forget) and in any case, given

the chance our bodies will reset in the direction of greatest ability

to serve, more deeply and completely, our babies and in the process,

the rest of the family and community.

>

> So it becomes not a psychological problem or issue but a physical

> support correction. When we are in our wide open to the Universe

> state in the early postpartum weeks especially, taking care of Mom's

> physical plane needs automatically takes care of Baby and everyone's

> emotional best care, being the hub of the wheel we are as mothers.

 

>It is such a blessing, the heart is already very naturally called out

>on task. So Feeling bad inside means you are feeling divided, and not

> supported/don't know how to care for yourself/invite the needed

care. does that ring?

>

> Some midwives tell their clients to stay in their nightgowns for 5

> weeks, that's really wise, or at least not to do stairs for 2-3

weeks. And most don't go there. Midwives do tend to advise more stay

at home lifestyle and natural foods, and the natural foodist approach

after birth also tends to go A** backwards, increasing risk of colic

and depression.

>

> It's not a fine state of affairs. I teach a block in the AyurDoula

> training on the antidepressants as well as mood stuff in general

> during their training, as it is so important. The SSRI's, though

for some a temporary blessing or even longer, cover the symptoms if

you are lucky, exacerbate the root causes, and usually give all kinds

of side effects. Forgive if this sounds harsh, there is good backup

and I wouldn't say it if there weren't other options.

 

>But I'm dead serious agreeing one should not take oneself off them,

cold turkey or just too fast like I've seen many professionals claim

is safe, has a whole nother big set of issues and you want it to be

under skilled professional guidance and over at least 6 months

graduation with other supports alongside, if you are on them more than

a year.

>

> OK, I told you I could get on my soapbox...got a bunch of them. I'd

> be happy to do a donation basis get together, I just don't like to

put it together. I want to jump in and do major mothering for you, of

course. At 3 years postpartum, the root issues for you are the same,

except managing the meds issues alongside. Many of the supports are

the same as early postpartum.

 

If the doom and gloom includes feiry emotions, there is another layer

to address in your phsiology. The psychological work becomes a lot

around finding how you may be able and willing to make the life

changes in foods, lifestyle, supportive supplements that may be needed.

>

> What's this about " the horrible 4 days coming on " - your moon time?

> There are good ways to get over the doom and gloom that are around

> nutrition, lifestyle, herbs, and other supports, and the queston

comes up, when did that specific tag start popping up? Many feel

> " possessed " even, with the SSRI's, which tend to coat the brain

glands with the excess serotonin (they work basically by disabling the

body's ability to metabolize/digest serotonin, which turns the excess

into a waste product that acts in many ways.) The coating inhibits

other glandular functions and makes us feel trapped.

>

> The natural imbalances after birth, in our especially fragile state,

> also make us prone to getting gloomy when the needed rejuvenation

> isn't supported. You know that old story of the Vietnamese women

> squatting in the field to give birth, then going back to work? I

used to aspire to that and feel terrible for being so far from it.

Until I learned that isn't the wisewoman way or tradition there

either, just what some women had to do. The cultures with intact

traditions that work after birth all do similar things.

>

> Their keywords include:

> REST and simplicity,

> warmth (food, drink, environment, hot water bottles on the tummy/lower

> back),

> moisture (avoiding foods that suck moisture to digest included,

> soupiness, hot baths...),

>

> oiliness (good quality especially the good cholesterols like

> butterfat, good news! as well as oily self massage or if you are

> lucky, masseuse administered specialized postpartum massage for Mom

> and Baby

> and a little (1/3 cup) rectal administration of oil too for a

> few days after the first 10!),

>

> leaning into sweet/sour/salty tastes plus certain strong digestive

> spices including roasted not raw garlic,ginger, cumin, fennel, basil

> caraway, clove and pepper

> lighter on the astringent/bitter tastes like nettle, beans, broccoli,

> and certain harsh spices like chiles and onion

> avoiding raw foods like the plague except for some sweet fresh fruits

> avoiding the convenient leftovers, who have lost their life force and

> tend to constipate/toxify and slug us out as a result

> AND there are a few other controversial issues *0)

>

> Oh my, I'm really on my soapbox. To do summary points:

 

> To prevent problems, we find maternal dietary factors, rest and

> massage are the top three things. Massage schools don't teach

> postpartum massage as they don't understand the needs, BTW.

>

> To turn them around, those three PLUS personalized herbal and

> therapeutic grade essential oil supports are usually the ticket,

under good guidance of course, is my experience.

>

> I'd best follow my own advice and get to bed.

> Best -

> Ysha

 

> WOW Ysha, you really have hit home with your reply to me. I will

write more later but wanted to say THANK YOU! I would love to get

with you and dig deeper into this subject. Since it is happening to me

more and more and lasting longer and longer i am afraid one day THIS

will be the way I am forever