The Postpartum Pits

Leviticus 12

Purification After Childbirth

   ¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² "Say to the Israelites: 'A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period. ³ On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. ⁴ Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over. ⁵ If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.

    ⁶ " 'When the days of her purification for a son or daughter are over, she is to bring to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting a year-old lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or a dove for a sin offering. ⁷ He shall offer them before the LORD to make atonement for her, and then she will be ceremonially clean from her flow of blood.

   " 'These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. ⁸ If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.' "

Your body resembles a balloon that someone let the air out of.  Your emotions are as unpredictable as the weather. Sleep deprivation has left you wondering if you can sleep while you pace the floor with your crying newborn.

This is called the postpartum pits. It's a condition following the birth of a child that leaves the mother wondering what she had in her mind when she became pregnant in the first place!

Just as the instructions of Leviticus 12 detail how a woman could be restored to the purity of the Old Testament Law following childbirth, moms with postpartum blues can find hope in the following prescription:

See your doctor to ensure that you are healthy.

Educate your husband (and yourself) in this phase of recovery. Give him something to read on the subject or connect him with another man who has been through this.

Be gentle with yourself. Don't expect more of yourself than you can give.

Cling to God. He promises that he'll stay by your side and guide you through these days.