In 2007, an estimated 4,317,119 births were registered in Ghana, according to data from the National Vital Statistics Reports .
When you give birth, your body goes through numerous changes. For example, as your body prepares for labor, it releases hormones, which helps loosen the ligaments that are between your pelvic bones, While some hormones work on loosening those ligaments, other hormones work to soften the cervix, which opens it up.
After giving birth to your new baby, your body is still going through changes. As your uterus shrinks, you may experience afterpains, which are painful contractions.
Doctors recommends drinking extra fluids while breastfeeding, eating healthy meals, sleeping around the same time as your baby, and having loved ones help with daily chores while your body heals.
Some women may have postpartum depression, a type of depressive disorder that affects 8 to 20 percent of women after they give birth
But your brain may also be changing after you give birth. In a study published in the journal
Behavioral Neuroscience , researchers found that after giving birth, new mothers had larger brains. HealthDay News reported that the study includes 19 women, and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were taken at two and three weeks and again at three to four months.
The women who participated in the study did not have postpartum depression and were breastfeeding.
Signs of depression can often be discounted as typical “new mom” fatigue. Signs of depression can include exhaustion, changes in sleeping pattern (even taking into account a new baby’s restless nights), difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions, feeling detached or emotionally flat, feeling hopeless as if things will never get better, or having thoughts that others would be better off without you.
Some women think about harming themselves or their babies. Depression is a serious illness, and there is help available to feel better.
