Slowing Down - Why We Rest When Baby Rests
As a new mother, I remember receiving lots of well-intentioned advice such as rest when baby rests and do not carry anything heavier than your baby. What I didn’t understand was the importance and physiological significance of this advice. In my thinking head, I thought if I felt okay then I didn’t need to rest or avoid lifting heavy objects. I had never been one to nap, and with my babies, I had a hard time slowing down. Years later, I learned the hard way why the advice to rest was relevant, and needless to say, I wish I had heeded that advice instead of facing the challenges of pelvic floor prolapse.
Many cultures around the world practice a lying in period and “in most cultures, the rest period spans between 21 days and 5 weeks” (Dennis, Fung, Grigoriadis, Robinson, Romas, Ross, 2007). In many countries in Latin America, a Cuarentena is practiced which is 40 days of rest. In China, Japan and Thailand, they rest for a month, though Japan’s rest period was traditionally 100 days. In Somalia, Egypt, and India, their traditions are closer to 40 days of rest, and in Korea, they rest for 21 days. Most of these cultures have practices of massage or movement to keep lymph flowing during the resting period.
For those of you like me that need to understand the why’s, here are some of the reasons why we rest and avoid lifting things heavier than out baby after giving birth:
Rest promotes bonding between mom and baby through an increase in Oxytocin
Rest allows the placental wound, which is approximately 8”, to heal and the body to recover
The hormone Relaxin which is responsible for relaxing the connective tissues, ligaments, and tendons in the body in order for the pelvic floor and the cervix to open at birth is in high quantities throughout pregnancy and in the early postpartum, time after birth. Relaxin makes our tendons, ligaments and connective tissue “stretchy” which puts them at risk of long term damage when we overstretch these areas by heavy lifting or excessive exercise.
Rest allows us to be in a state of calm and relax which promotes optimal body function
Postpartum is seen as a vulnerable time for new mothers in many cultures and “not observing the traditional period of post-partum rest is generally believed to result in premature aging or ill health, either immediately or in later life” (Dennis, Fung, Grigoriadis, Robinson, Romas, Ross, 2007). Allowing your body the time it needs to heal supports you as a new mother and can help promote your lifelong health, so go get your snuggle on!
For more education on postpartum planning and care, contact Danielle at connect@motheringlife.com
About the Author
Danielle Hughes is the Founder of Mothering Life and a mother of two. She is an INNATE Postpartum Care practitioner and provides information and resources to expectant and new mothers, so motherhood can be the celebration that it is meant to be.