BE WELL
IMPORTANCE OF FOCUSING ON WHOLE HEALTH AFTER BIRTH WRITTEN BY JACKIE WOODS / PHOTO BY GETTY IMAGES
Bringing a newborn home can be a wonderful and challenging experience for new and experienced moms alike. A growing family can bring much joy, but also present unique challenges. We hear a lot about taking care of ourselves during pregnancy, but it’s just as important to pay attention to your whole health after bringing a baby home.
Christine Khong, MD, is a boardcertified family medicine physician with AdventHealth Medical Group Primary Care at Prairie Village. She encourages her patients to focus on enhancing their whole health—physically, mentally, and spiritually—at all stages of life, and especially with a
newborn at home. “Creating new life can be demanding,” says Dr. Khong. “During pregnancy, women’s bodies go through many changes, and hormones affect their sleep, energy, and mood. It is important that women take care of their
physical health but also their mental and emotional well-being.” The postpartum period, defined as the six weeks after giving birth, can be one of the most difficult times for many women. Some physical challenges women face during this time continued on page 16
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SIMPLYkc MAGAZINE
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JULY 2021
