One woman’s difficult postpartum experience shows how vital maternity leave is

Mamas, this will sound very familiar.

This thread first went viral last year but given how important this subject is, we think it's worth highlighting again. Taking to Twitter, Kate Clancy explained how she was up late because the antibiotics for her mastitis were giving her heartburn and decided it was an opportune time to share her 'postpartum experience'.

I'm up late because the antibiotics for my mastitis are giving me debilitating heartburn, so now seems like a good time to share with you my postpartum experience and why it's bullshit that it's so understudied.

— Kate Clancy (@KateClancy) January 4, 2018

Kate went on to share how since she gave birth, she suffered a number of health concerns including a second-degree tear in her perineum, anal fissures and a stage two vaginal prolapse.

I gave birth to my second kiddo on August 5th. I had significant hemorrhaging, at least 2000ml, and it was a scary night. My hemoglobin was down to a 7.1. I had to go on antibiotics. Oh, and I got another second degree tear in my perineum.

— Kate Clancy (@KateClancy) January 4, 2018

The new mum and anthropology professor made the point that although she finds these postpartum difficulties massively embarrassing and it bothered her that women don't talk openly about the "common issues that postpartum women face".

A few weeks after that, anal fissures. I'm not enjoying telling you these things, they are massively embarrassing. But it bothers me that we keep quiet about these common issues that postpartum women face.

— Kate Clancy (@KateClancy) January 4, 2018

Kate then detailed the fact that she's had 'massive diastasis and two hernias' before sharing the fact that she was 'constantly asked' when she's going back to work. The mum of two's experience highlights just how important maternity leave is as your body and mind adjust to a new way of life after giving birth.

So my current issues are: fissures, mastitis, rectocele, and have I mentioned my massive diastasis and two hernias? Yet I spent all last semester being constantly asked when I'd be done with mat leave.

— Kate Clancy (@KateClancy) January 4, 2018

As you'll see from the reactions to her tweets, the amounts of retweets and favourites, people agreed with her thoughts and although improvements are being made all the time, it is a subject that requires further attention.