Motherhood is a joyful, humbling, and empowering experience that can change a woman’s life completely. While it comes with happy moments, it also brings some challenges that you’ll have to deal with for years, and sometimes, for the rest of your life. Among these challenges are health issues, and according to the World Health Organization, more than a third of all women experience lasting health problems after childbirth. For mental health support and family-focused counseling, you can reach out to Alberta Family Psychology.
Dr. Pascale Allotey, Director of Sexual Reproductive Health and Research at WHO, says that most of these postpartum conditions cause women pain and discomfort long after giving birth, “both emotionally and physically, and yet they are largely underappreciated, underrecognized, and underreported.” As a mom, it’s important to know that your health matters since you also deserve to have a good quality of life. Here’s what you need to know about common health issues that affect modern moms, and what you can do to prevent or manage them.
Foot Problems
If you experience foot pain on the daily, you’re not alone. Millions of women deal with foot problems, and you’re more likely to have foot and knee pain when you’re pregnant since the added weight puts pressure on your back and feet. Many modern moms also develop foot conditions such as bunions, hammertoe, and ankle sprains and fractures from wearing high heels or ill-fitting shoes. Wearing comfortable and properly fitted shoes with good arch support can reduce pain and improve stability. Elevating your feet, doing gentle stretching exercises, and maintaining a healthy weight can also prevent aches and pains and certain foot conditions from developing.
In some cases, treatment may be needed to address certain foot problems. For instance, if you have a bunion, which is characterized by a bump on the joint at the base of your big toe, you may need a bunionectomy or an operation for bunions to realign the toe joint and prevent your big toe from bending towards your other toes. Bunion surgery can relieve pain, restore foot function, and make simple things such as wearing shoes or walking more comfortable.
Milestone Physio & Wellness also offers comprehensive care that can help address these types of postpartum challenges, ensuring moms get the right support for their physical recovery.
Urinary Incontinence
Do you sometimes experience urine leakage when you laugh, sneeze, or have a bad cough? This condition is called urinary incontinence, and it affects 24 to 45 percent of women. Pregnancy and childbirth can increase your risk of this health problem, and the frequency of urine leakage can get worse as you get older. Urinary incontinence can cause skin infections, and many people who have this problem find themselves withdrawing from social activities out of fear of having an accidental urine leakage.
To improve your quality of life, consider making some lifestyle changes to regain control of your bladder. Limit your alcohol and caffeine consumption, and quit smoking since studies show that smokers are at risk of urinary incontinence. Find ways to manage stress since it can put pressure on your bladder and urethra, resulting in accidental leaks. To strengthen your pelvic floor, do daily Kegel exercises by squeezing and relaxing your pelvic floor muscles several times a day. You may also want to make frequent toilet trips and go every two to three hours instead of waiting for the urge to urinate.
Anxiety and Depression
Anxiety and depression is highly common in parents since the stress of having to care for their family while having to work and juggle multiple responsibilities can put a toll on one’s mental health. About one-third of all teenagers have one parent with anxiety or depression, and these mental health conditions are more prevalent in stay-at-home moms since they experience loneliness, loss of identity, and isolation.
Most women brush off their negative emotions, thinking that they’re just due to hormonal changes or that they’ll just go away on their own. However, you need to be on the lookout for certain symptoms since anxiety or depression can worsen, which may lead you to make poor decisions in the future. If the feeling of sadness never goes away, you’re having sleep problems, you’re irritable and frustrated all the time, and have no interest in the things or activities that used to bring you joy, then you need to seek help and find positive ways to cope.
Therapy is always a good solution since it helps moms to explore their feelings in a safe space. Practice self care, such as doing skincare or working out. Never feel guilty about taking time to make yourself look and feel good. Talk to loved ones and friends, and give yourself a break every once in a while.
Whether you’re a new mom or a seasoned mom, looking after your health is essential for your happiness and wellbeing. If you have any of the health conditions mentioned above, take time to manage them, and get treatment if necessary. Remember to consult your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.