Managing Your Energy after Birth

Perhaps you’re still euphoric from seeing your baby for the first time. Or maybe you’re just plain dead beat after that marathon labor. Either way, take heed: there’s more fatigue to come in the next few days after birth. Rest assured, though, that it is perfectly normal. But if it gives you any trouble, these tips may help you in battling exhaustion:

• Join your baby for a nap. Sleep deprivation is one of the major causes of fatigue in women who had just given birth. Forget housework for a while and get your much-needed shut-eye. This will give you plenty of energy later on to face more difficult tasks.

• Enlist your spouse’s help in chores. Giving birth to a baby is no easy feat. It will take you a few weeks or even month to get back to normal routine, so make you get all the help that you need from family and friends.

• Reorganize routine. Go to bed early to make up for nighttime waking.

You may feel lethargic a few days after you’ve given birth, but this is only temporary. Consult a doctor if fatigue goes on for months.