Katherine Schwarzenegger slams America’s ‘medical system’ for ‘not paying enough attention to mothers’ after childbirth – as she opens up about the struggles she faced after welcoming her kids with Chris Pratt
Katherine Schwarzenegger has criticized the US ‘medical system’ for ‘not paying enough attention to mothers’ after childbirth – as she opened up about some of the challenges she faced after welcoming her two children with Chris Pratt.
Katherine, 34, was fiercely honest about how difficult the first few weeks were after giving birth to her first daughter as she discussed postpartum depression and anxiety during a recent appearance on Lo Bosworth’s Gut feeling podcast.
The author, who welcomed daughter Lyla, three, in August 2020, followed by Eloise, one, in May 2022, admitted she struggled after becoming a mother.
“When you’ve just given birth to a child, especially if it’s the first time, you experience a completely different role and version of your life, which can certainly be very overwhelming,” she said.
Katherine Schwarzenegger has criticized the US ‘medical system’ for ‘not paying enough attention to mothers’ after childbirth
She also opened up about some of the struggles she faced after welcoming her two children with Chris Pratt, while discussing postpartum depression on Lo Bosworth’s Gut Feelings podcast.
The author, who welcomed daughter Lyla, three, in 2020, followed by Eloise, one, in 2022, said she struggled to “experience a completely different role” after becoming a mother.
‘It’s very different, and then you’re like, “Wait, I’m so happy and I’m so emotional (at the same time), what’s going on?”
‘For me, when I became a mother for the first time, I also took into account Covid, which was very unknown. There were a lot of different things going on that I was trying to keep track of.”
Katherine also talked about how her body changed after giving birth.
“You’re getting up in the middle of the night, your body is going through so many different changes with hormones and breastfeeding and you’re healing,” she continued.
‘Your hormones take a huge dip after you have a baby. All the hormones that you have built up in your body over the past nine months disappear.
‘Six or seven days (after giving birth) I was suddenly freezing and sweating (at the same time). My breasts were leaking and very hard.’
Katherine explained that while “breastfeeding is a beautiful thing,” she said it felt like a “full-time job” that was much harder than she expected.
“The maintenance and care of your body that you have to take into account when you’re breastfeeding… I have a whole different level of respect for people who are breastfeeding,” she added.
Katherine also shared how her body changed in unexpected ways after giving birth
‘Six out of seven days (after giving birth) I was suddenly freezing and sweating (at the same time). My breasts were leaking and very hard,” said Katherine (left) to the presenter (right)
Although she praised the fact that there is a ‘much more open form of dialogue about life after childbirth’, the star was quick to bash the lack of care for mothers after childbirth.
Although she praised the fact that there is a ‘much more open form of dialogue about life after childbirth’, the star was quick to bash the lack of care for mothers after childbirth.
“Our medical system is a big challenge because we don’t pay enough attention to mothers after they have children, or caring for them and giving them what they need,” Katherine explained.
“We live in a culture that’s like, you give birth and then you come right back into life, and there are people for whom that might work, but there are other people who might need to take some time to adjust.” to what their life is like after you have a baby.
“For many people they can just bounce back, but for other people it can be much more challenging.”
As for her advice to moms who might be going through a hard time, she said it’s important “to have someone you can be open and honest with about how you’re feeling.”
“Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help if you need it,” she urged.
“If you need someone to sit with your baby while you shower, do so. If you need someone to help you with the dishes, do so.
‘If you need more support from your husband or partner, ask for it. Don’t be ashamed to ask for help at this time of your life, this is a very vulnerable and important time of your life. People want to help you, appeal to those people who ask for help.’
“Our medical system is a big challenge because we don’t pay enough attention to mothers after they have children, or caring for them and giving them what they need,” she explained.
As for her advice to moms who might be struggling, she said how important it is to have “someone with whom you can be open and honest about how you’re feeling.”
Katherine shared how she tackles “mom burnout,” explaining that she always tries to find time to “do things that make her happy.”
She said, “Being the stressed, crazy, exhausted version of yourself is not going to be a great version of yourself to give to your kids.
‘That could mean taking a walk, going outside and catching your breath. It could be coffee – whatever those little things are (that make you happy). Just find a moment to collect yourself and then move on with your day.”
Katherine also encouraged parents to “be gentle with themselves” and remember that it is a “balancing act” and not every day goes as planned.
“It won’t always be smooth and seamless. You’re going to be late, things aren’t going your way, your kids are getting sick,” she reminded listeners.
“That’s something that’s hard for me to accept because I’m very structured and planned and have been that way all my life.”
“But if you try to balance everything every day, the pressure will be never-ending and exhausting, and it’s just not realistic.”
The writer, who married Chris in 2019, runs her own Instagram Live series titled Before, During & After Baby, in which she interviews “experts, notable specialists, real people and friends on topics surrounding all things baby.”