Kathy D. writes:

<And we have been talking about the fogginess of the first several days
after
birth, not once the US woman goes back to work at 6 weeks postpartum as a
physicist or stockbroker or college professor.>

Let's not forget age, expectations and prior personal experience in an
individual's postpartum adjustment.

Has anyone noted a distinct difference in early adjustment to parenthood
of more mature women (esp. "elderly primips") who have established their
professional life, DINK (Double Income, No Kids) home and social
routines, and have developed the habit of using a planner for scheduling
their priorities to liberate them from excess stress?

Compared to the somewhat younger SAHM with several other kids already,
who knows her limits as superwoman, sort of knows how to team up with dad
and relatives and friends and go with the flow off the top of her head in
order to make the most of the 24 hour day?

Versus the teen-age first time moms who sometimes treat all that is
happening like the measles, know this too shall pass because they can
depend on moms and aunties to show them what to do or do it for them?

Expectations, when at variance with reality, can require a lot of mental
energy to change, and perhaps emotional energy to grieve.

Jean
************************************************************************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio





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