Midwife and Public Health Nurse, Akua Oduraa Nuamah has stressed the need for women to enjoy good rest throughout the postpartum period. A period she described as the first six weeks after delivery.

She stated that the period begins with the delivery process, breastfeeding, and caring for the new child and that it is a stressful time for mothers. This situation, in the end, affects the woman's overall well-being because rest is essential throughout the period.

“The delivery process and taking care of the newborn child put pressure on most women which results in stress.

“A woman who is going through the postpartum period needs a good rest to overcome the stress from taking care of the child,” she stated.  

Speaking with Roselyn Felli on Prime Morning on Monday she said, women who have had traumatic birth experiences may find breastfeeding difficult because of the stress that comes with it and further stated that breastfeeding involves the brain and hormones.

To her, breastfeeding involves the coordination of multiple brain cells and the best way to restore the dead cells is through proper sleep and rest.

Resting at this stage is essential because the child mostly relies on breastfeeding for development, a practice that takes away a lot of energy from the woman in question.

“Breastfeeding after delivery has to do with a lot of hormonal coordination especially prolactin, however, when the woman is psychologically down, it suppresses the functioning of prolactin which plays a role in breast milk production.

“Since good rest is good for managing stress, it is advisable for women to have enough of it throughout the period,” she added.

Akua Oduraa however lamented over how situations have made it difficult for lactating mothers to have enough rest and called on husbands, in-laws and the entire family to assist in taking care of the newbie to give room for the mother to rest, especially during the postpartum period.