Often the presure of looking after a newborn means that the mother's focus is on the baby, and not on herself, and she may not pick up on warning signs of which she might otherwise have been aware. It is very common for women with PND to be very unwilling to acknowledge that something is wrong.
A women who is developing Post Natal Depression may initially have symptoms of anxiety and compulsive behavour so may not recognise her symptoms as 'Post Natal Depression' since depression is only one symptom of the illness
There are a number of warning signs which you can watch out for that may indicate that your partner is developing Post Natal Depression.
These are listed below: - Problems sleeping, nightmares
- Negative and moody behaviur
- Palpitations
- Obsessive fears about the baby?s health or wellbeing,
- Panic attacks
- extreme fatigue
- bouts of crying over things which would not normally provoke such a reaction
- being short tempered or snappy
- headache, night sweats, stomach pains, blurred vision
- being hostile or indifferent to you or the people around her
- difficulty in concentrating or making decisions
Your partner may go through one or more of the experiences, although it?s extremely unlikely that she will go through all of them. If you think she has any of the warning signs try to encourage her to go and see you?re GP or other Medical Practitioner if only for reassurance. If she is developing Post Natal Depression, the quicker you receive treatment the faster you will recover.
Your a dad, congratulations!
When the excitement of the birth has died down, many couples find that it is all a bit of an anti-climax. In your partner this is as a result of a huge change in hormones levels, many women feel teary and down for several days even weeks. In men it usually manifests its self as feeling completely exhausted.
Just when you least feel like socialising, you've got to deal with all the friends and relatives who want to know what's happened and can't wait to see your new bundle of joy. Despite their well-meaning calls and visits, this is a time for you, mum and your baby to get use to each other. Try to be polite but firm with visitors it would be better to get the visits over as quickly as possible, so throw a little party and get it over in one hit. This will give you several weeks of peace so you can have quiet time to bond with your baby and catch up on the lost sleep. You can use their help though to catch up with all the things that you have let slip so don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
Learning to cope with the demands of a newborn and adjusting to being new parents can seem a bit daunting. It is common to experience a short period of baby blues, but if this period continues it can develop into a more serious condition know as Post Natal Depression (PND). It affects around one in ten new mothers, the symptoms are similar to other forms of depression. It can also affect you, you need to talk about your feelings together, as often as you can you will both benefit and you'll both be aware of any negative emotions that could be a sign of needing help.
Many people tend to prefer the missionary position for sex during pregnancy, it becomes a very difficult manoeuvre to perform as the abdomen gets larger.
So try some of these positions:
- Woman on top. This allows you to control the depth of penetration, and the majority of the movement. You can go as fast or as slow as you'd like, while controlling the depth of the penis. This position works really well throughout pregnancy and at the very end of pregnancy.
- Spooning. This position gets it's name from the way spoons fit together in the drawer. Usually it's best if the man is behind allowing his penis to go between your thighs and enter you from behind. This creates no pressure on the abdomen, and allows for a shallow penetration. Many women find this a very relaxing position for sex during pregnancy, and it can be used throughout.
Hands & Knees. This is a very good position for pregnant women again because of the lack of direct pressure on the abdomen, although as your get larger your belly may actually rest on the bed. Some women find this difficult at the very end of pregnancy, depending on how high they are able to hold their belly off the bed and still allow for penetration.
- Side lying, Lay on your side with your partner facing you, try pulling one leg up to allow room for your partner. This can get tiring after a while, and may not be easy for the last part of pregnancy.
All of the above mentioned positions also allow for manual stimulation of the clitoris either by you or your partner. . They also prevent the mother from laying on her back, which is not recommended after the fourth month of pregnancy. When you're trying to think of a good position, try it, if it doesn't work stop. Creativity will be a lot of fun during pregnancy, and it will probably carry over into your postpartum sex life as well, when creativity becomes important in a different way.
Above all communicate with your partner and be respectful of their changing hormones and physical shape and most of all don?t be offended if she does not feel sexual this will pass.
Can sex harm my baby? the short answer is No, not directly. Your baby is fully protected by the amniotic sac (a thin-walled bag that holds the foetus and surrounding fluid) and the strong muscles of the uterus. There's also a thick mucus plug that seals the cervix and helps guard against infection. Your penis does not come into contact with the foetus during sex.
Can intercourse or orgasm cause miscarriage or contractions? In most cases, low-risk pregnancies, the answer is no. The contractions that your partner may feel during and just after orgasm are entirely different from the contractions associated with labour. However, it is better to check with your healthcare provider to make sure that your partner?s pregnancy falls into the low-risk category. It is common for doctors to recommend that all women stop having sex during the final weeks of pregnancy, because semen contains a chemical that may actually stimulate contractions.
My partner doesn't want sex, is this normal? It is completely normal for you and your partner's desire for sex to increase or decrease during pregnancy. Some men feel even closer to their pregnant partners and enjoy the changes in their bodies. Some men experience decreased desire because of fears about the burdens of parenthood, or concerns about the wellbeing of both the mother and their unborn child. It is also difficult for some men to reconciling their partner?s identity as a sexual creature with their new emerging identity as a mother. Remember, that communication with your partner is the key, try to explain your fears and deal with them together.
During
One of the main things we worry about when our partner is pregnant is Sex, many men worry that they can hurt the baby. The good news is that sex is considered safe during all stages of the pregnancy provided that your partner is not in a high risk group, ask a medical professional for advice or get your partner to if she falls into this category or are worried.
Of course, just because sex is safe during most pregnancy doesn't mean that your partner or you will necessarily want have it! Many expectant mothers find that their desire for sex fluctuates during certain stages in the pregnancy so don?t feel rejected it is just hormones and often size, many women find that sex becomes uncomfortable as their bodies get larger.
You need to communicate (we know its easier said than done) with your partner about your sexual relationship and try to understand the hormonal and physical change that she is going through that might make her feel less comfortable with sexual activities.
If you can it may help to talk about other ways to satisfy your need for intimacy, such as kissing, caressing, and holding each other etc.
If you do have sex you also may need to experiment with other positions for sex to find those that are the most comfortable. In the later stages it is common for many women to lose their desire and motivation for sex late in the pregnancy, not only because of their size but also because they're preoccupied with the impending delivery and the excitement of becoming a new parent. Remember it is only nine months and thing should get back to normal soon after the birth.
Sex after birth
Your partners midwife will generally give your partner guidelines about sex after the birth of your child, this will depend on the type of birth that your partner has had. It is best to follow these guide lines and wait until it is safe to resume normal sex life.
It is also worth pointing out that it is possible that it may take your partner sometime before they feel ready to have sex, this is a subject that couples often don't discus but it is much better to talk about how you feel an allow your partner to express herself this can stop either of you from harbouring resentment. The good news is that in most cases couples do get their sex lives back it is not just as easy to find the time or the energy with a new baby, so try to make time for each other.
Do as you are told is the short and simple answer!!
In all seriousness it?s true, the best way that any potential father can help is to do as he asked whether by medical professionals or by his partner.
Most women will say how they want you to help and if they don't, ask what you can do but don?t keep asking you will be told to shut up in no uncertain terms. Some women sail through the labour and in their second or third it is often quicker and easier but remember that even the mildest mannered women can be aggressive and in some cases down right nasty during their labour and this is normal.
You must remember that even though this is a totally natural process all women are scared (no matter what they say) and often in a lot of pain, try to be patient and not to take any comments to heart. It is particularly important if something is going wrong during the birth to reassure you partner that everything will be ok and it will soon be over you may get a sharp response but it is best to try.
So if you choose to be there then try to stay as calm and as reassuring as you can possible be oh and if you pass out you will hear it over and over again so if you feel faint it is usually to do with the fact that it is very hot in the delivery room (honest! Not that you are scared and excited no defiantly not ), then get a drink of water or step outside for a minute but try not to miss the actual birth doing that would be as bad as passing out.
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Blog Directory ID: 3179
Blog URL: http://daddytwobe.blogspot.com/
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Blog Description: Help and advice for dads to be, info on the things you want to know but are afraid to ask
Blog Category: Mens Health Blogs
Blog Owner: tracy
Blog Added: June 23, 2008 01:05:10 PM
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