Overview
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The postpartum period can become very challenging and difficult. After giving birth, mothers need to recover and heal not only physically but also mentally and emotionally. Many mothers, especially first-time moms, experience postpartum blues or even depression due to several reasons,t may be due to hormones, sleepless nights, too much-unsolicited opinion from people around, judgmental family members – the anxiety of parenthood can eventually become just too much.
A lot, particularly 80% of mothers, have experienced postpartum blues in the first few weeks post-delivery. Emotions and feelings during the postpartum period include more exhaustion and extreme mood swings. Anxiety and a sense of being overwhelmed and tearful are also common during the postpartum period. Postpartum depression may also develop. This is commonly characterized by increased crying, irritability, anger, extreme sleep disturbances, appetite changes, apathy, anxiety, isolation, inability to take care of oneself, and many more.
Although postpartum blues is not new, many women suffer still suffer from the stigma that’s even with the signs of experiencing postpartum blues shows. Many mothers return to work within six weeks of giving birth resulting in uncured or unresolved postpartum issues. In this post, we will be sharing with you how CBD can help many parents during the postpartum period, so read on!
Benefits of CBD in relieving postpartum blues
Relieve and ease parental anxiety
Anxiety can indeed be looming during the postpartum period, and it is inevitable, especially when you are still adapting to life as a new parent with a newborn child. When you have just given birth, life surprisingly gives you too much to worry about, from your baby’s health, the surroundings, the people around you and your baby, and you even worry about yourself too. Many people will indeed come lurking with all eyes on you, the world is a scary place indeed, but you have to know that everything will be fine. Anxiety will not be good for both you and your baby. That’s why CBD will help you in relieving postpartum anxiety.
Effectively relieving anxiety is one of the many remarkable benefits of CBD. They have been proven to offer anti-anxiety properties and are comparable or even better than many anxiety medications. CBD will not make you feel sleepy or distracted. That’s why it is suitable for use during postpartum period since you need to stay awake for the baby. CBD tends to relax the mind and also acts as a potent treatment for social anxiety. That is why CBD is best for parents who have been experiencing anxiety because of overwhelming visitors, judgmental comments from the people around, and social media.
Recover from post-traumatic stress
Trauma isn’t new for most mothers who have just given birth. One out of four women recalls their birthing experience as traumatic. About nine percent of them tend to suffer post-traumatic stress disorder days after giving birth. Many studies have proven how Cannabidiol effectively helps with issues relating to post-traumatic stress. CBD works by modulating fear memory, eventually adjusting how the human body responds to memories of trauma. This effectively helps in easing the symptoms of PTSD like flashbacks and intense anger. CBD oils are the most commonly used Cannabidiol product during postpartum period since oils are safe and an entry-level option for people who want to avoid medication. CBD oils are also easy to use. New parents may use it by putting a few drops under the tongue, rubbing on skin or pressure points, and inhaling vapor from steam. Cannabidiol also has a calming effect that effectively alleviates irritability, insomnia, and depression related to post-traumatic stress.
Better sleep and relaxing rest
Problematic sleeping patterns are totally common for every new parent. During the night, your babies may be up crying or begging for food, leaving you with little to no sleep. Because of this, it is common for every parent to feel fatigued and suffer from insomnia and the little quality sleep interrupted by a screaming baby is more than enough to make you feel frustrated and drive you crazy.
It is a good thing that CBD can offer benefits that will greatly improve your sleeping cycle. Most parents have issues during REM sleep, and this is the part where CBD can greatly help. CBD oils can help the brain recover from disrupted sleep while also helping you stay awake and alert during the day.
Increasing alertness and attentiveness
Taking care of your little bundle of joy can be very tiring, and you have to do a lot of things – from cleaning your baby’s stuff to looking after them. As they grow months older, you may eventually need to play with them, teach them new things, prepare more food for them, and other more chores to do. You need to do those things for yourself, and your baby is good enough reasons for you to stay alert and attentive. However, we understand how staying alert can be tough when you’re tired all the time. That’s why CBD is here to help.
CBD products effectively help parents cultivate mindfulness by helping them stay awake and alert even when they are deprived of sleep. Many parents have declared that their concentration greatly improved after using CBD. It also helped them feel very much less jittery and stressed.
Reducing the risk of depression
Being a new parent can become overwhelming. It can become a roller coaster of emotions, including being happy, in love, scared, sad, irritated, and much more. It is no question that a combination of hormonal changes, health issues, if any, parenting anxiety, lack of support, being sleep-deprived, among others, can contribute to the development of postpartum depression.
Anhedonia, or the inability to feel happiness or joy, is very common for new parents, and this is also the most serious and difficult symptom of postpartum depression. This can be relieved with CBD’s help; a lot of studies have shown CBD’s effectiveness in easing depression symptoms since it is a potent antidepressant that can help by motivating you to become productive while eliminating feelings of sadness and despair.
Effectively relieve pain
Most women experience pain during the postpartum period; this is due to pain from giving birth, cracked nipples from breastfeeding, cramps and muscle spasms from all the chores and carrying the baby, headache and stiff neck because of weird sleeping positions, and unending tiredness. Not only will these make the postpartum period miserable, but it will also make this period painful. However, new parents won’t have to worry since CBDs have been proven to ease inflammation and other conditions that may cause acute and chronic pain. CBD products are also commended for their effectiveness in easing several types of pain.
Is CBD safe?
Safety is not an issue if you use CBD responsibly in moderate amounts and ensure that the CBD you are using is of high quality and not contaminated‘ by any harmful compounds. Another fact is that CBD is not a psychoactive agent that will get you high, so it is safe to use around babies and children. However, there are not many studies on the use of CBD and its effects on breastfeeding. Remember to consult your doctor if you have doubts or are unsure about the use of CBD during your postpartum period.
Considerations for Postpartum Women
- Lack of Comprehensive Research: While there is anecdotal evidence suggesting the benefits of CBD for postpartum issues such as anxiety, depression, and pain management, comprehensive research in this area is still lacking. Most of the existing studies focus on the general population or animals, not specifically on postpartum women.
- Breastfeeding Concerns: For breastfeeding mothers, the primary concern is whether CBD can be transmitted to the baby through breast milk. Current research on this aspect is limited, and the effects of CBD on a nursing infant are not well understood. The FDA advises against the use of cannabis products, including CBD, while breastfeeding.
- Quality and Regulation Issues: The CBD market varies greatly in terms of product quality and regulation. Some CBD products may contain contaminants or not have the stated amount of CBD, posing potential risks. It’s crucial to use products from reputable sources that provide third-party testing and clear labeling.
- Potential Interactions with Medications: CBD can interact with certain medications, such as antidepressants and painkillers, commonly prescribed in the postpartum period. It’s essential to discuss with a healthcare provider before starting CBD, especially if you are taking other medications.
- Topical vs. Ingested CBD: For those concerned about the effects of CBD on the baby, topical applications (like creams or salves) might be a safer option, as they are less likely to enter the bloodstream or be transferred to breast milk.
- Dosage and Monitoring: If you choose to use CBD, start with a low dosage and closely monitor your response to it. Pay attention to any side effects and adjust the dosage as necessary.