Those of you who have been through the postnatal period will understand perfectly why we say that the postnatal period is one of the most overlooked.

When we fall pregnant, we prepare as thoroughly as possible for the birth: we attend antenatal classes, we’re taught how to breathe, we’re given guidelines on when to head to hospital, we’re told what to do to manage the pain better, how to move on the birthing ball, and about having a warm shower with the jet aimed at our lower back… But nobody tells us what comes next – not a single word about the postnatal period!

Of course, it’s a time of great joy because you can finally hold your baby in your arms, but what about the sadness that sometimes overwhelms us and consumes us? And that uncertainty about whether you’re doing it right? And the pain from the scars, from your nipples, from not recognising yourself in the mirror… We believe it’s essential to talk about the postnatal period and share tools to cope with it.

Postnatal gynaecological care

As you’ll know if you’ve been through this, there’s very little postnatal care. The moment we give birth, we go home with a newborn and, until the postnatal period is over, no healthcare professional visits us. We’re completely sidelined! We only see the paediatrician to monitor the baby and breastfeeding.

However, as Dr Marimer mentioned, gynaecologists can offer better support by arranging an initial appointment between 7 and 15 days after giving birth to advise on necessary care that often raises doubts and fears, such as hygiene, nipple care and postnatal bleeding… It’s also an excellent time to discuss how breastfeeding is progressing, the baby’s weight gain and the family situation, with all the changes that this new phase brings. Don’t miss the podcast to find out more about these points!

Psychological advice for the postnatal period

The arrival of a newborn brings with it many emotional ups and downs due to hormonal changes, the stress caused by this new phase that we neither know nor can control, tiredness, and the pressure that sometimes arises around breastfeeding…

As psychologist Paola Roig explains in the Planeta V podcast, “feeling sad, tired or lonely during the first 15 days is normal; this is known as the ‘baby blues’.” However, if these feelings persist over time, if you feel that you are not good enough for your baby or that day-to-day life is a huge struggle, it is absolutely vital to seek help, as you may be suffering from postnatal depression, also known as ‘smiling depression’ because it is accompanied by a great deal of guilt, and the first people to mask it are the women suffering from it themselves, as they feel they cannot be sad after having a baby.

We recommend listening to the whole podcast, as Paola has shared some really interesting advice on how to experience the postnatal period with joy and a sense of empowerment.

Our recommendation

As you’re no doubt aware, our bodies undergo many changes during the postnatal period. One of the most common is vaginal dryness, caused by the temporary drop in oestrogen levels that occurs after childbirth, which can last even longer for breastfeeding women.

Furthermore, this vaginal dryness can cause pain during sexual intercourse, so we recommend using an internal moisturiser three times a week, on alternate days, to moisturise the vaginal area and thus combat symptoms of irritation, dryness and itching in the vaginal lining. To complement this, we recommend using Mucus, our water-based lubricant which mimics cervical mucus and will make sexual intercourse more pleasurable by moisturising the intimate area.