When I first read this month's topic my first reaction was "What care?" mainly because I feel that there really is none for mom as it becomes all about baby. This being said, I did get to get out of the house in four 1/2 weeks after my second delivery as opposed to the 6 weeks after my first to see the doctor for my post part um check up. I guess this was care but it consisted of me sitting in the waiting room for 20 minutes while I freaked out at anyone coughing over my newborn and toddler only to be lead into the room and wait another 10 minutes debating whether I had the time to breast feed or not before I would need to jump into the stirrups and get my approval to go back to contraception, as if in fact my insides wanted anything to do with intimacy. Oh the joys of being so naive. I actually thought that was care. Three and a half years before, I did receive a post par tum well check visit from a nurse 24hours after returning home from my first delivery because my insurance company was so great and proactive and it was part of my "Well Mommy" benefits but now I understand that this was merely their compromise to booting me and my baby out of the hospital in 48hours which could allow them to miss the common onset of jaundice in newborns up to three days after birth and so they were actually covering their butts and validating not covering a pediatrician visit until the child was old enough to take her first series of shots. So again, how naive. The reality is that you must look to care for yourself which means taking time to recover, taking time to adjust and being proactive about anything that does not feel right to you. Yes mood swings happen and sleepless nights prevail but you should be getting back in touch with you and learn to seek out moments in your day or night to do so. I highly recommend keeping a journal to jot down insight, frustrations and complications this new addition has brought into your world. It is a way to validate your thoughts but also a way to move onto the joys among the muck! Seek support on line, from family, from friends and breath!!!!!! You will be amazed how empowering taking a few moments for your care can be.