Jayne Freeman

Not to sound self-serving but this is why postpartum doulas are so important. Many pregnant women don’t expect to feel overwhelmed or “not themselves” for weeks or months on end. It’s one thing to HEAR about sleep deprivation, it’s another thing entirely to experience it. Hormonal changes, identity issues, partner friction, not to mention the challenges of babies in general — all conspire to make this timeframe feel unmanageable for some parents. After teaching a childbirth class where I wrap up with “what to expect in the immediate postpartum period” one of my students started crying. She said, “I spent so much time focusing on what I need for the BABY I never thought about what I needed for MYSELF!” And that about sums it up.