Children are the most precious gift God has given us but becoming a mother can be beautiful and exhausting for the new mother at the same time. The entire journey of Pregnancy itself is overwhelming. You must take care of your health, sleep, and eating habits with all your body’s physical, emotional and hormonal changes. Regular visits to the doctor, screening, and tests, a lot goes on until you complete your 40 weeks-long terms and are ready to deliver a baby. Both are immense and tiresome whether you have a vaginal delivery or a cesarian section.
Although becoming a mother is one of the happiest things in life, the initial 4 to 6 weeks after having a baby is challenging as the mother’s body resets to default hormonal and physical condition. Low energy levels, fatigue, and mood swings are some everyday things almost all women experience. They might feel anxious, depressed, uncomfortable, and isolated with many new responsibilities. Their lives revolve around the babies they just delivered. They have to feed them, change them after every few hours, take care of their sleep patterns, get them vaccinated, and look for any symptoms of illnesses or conditions. The baby’s well-being and health become their priority.
Every child born is different, and every mother may have different experiences throughout Pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery. Caring for oneself after the delivery is as essential as caring for the baby. Mother needs to understand how her body is changing and how these changes can affect her health, consequently affecting her baby’s health and development. In adapting to motherhood, the mother needs to be patient, careful, and considerate regarding her capabilities and potential as a new mother. If a new mother can not fulfill her newfound mothery duties, health workers and trained professionals can help and support them in addressing their problems and devising solutions suitable for the mother and the baby. Here are a few self-care tips new mothers can follow to recover fully from postpartum and enjoy motherhood.
Taking care of diet is one of the most important things after delivering the baby. A nutritional and well-balanced diet that includes meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and cereals makes healing easier for the mother and keeps the baby healthy if the mother is nursing. It is better to take small frequent meals, cut unnecessary sugars and keep yourself hydrated. It is also a good idea to continue taking iron supplements and multivitamins for at least three months after the delivery.
Resting makes it easier for the body to recover and heal. It is advisable to take as much rest as you can and try to sleep when the baby is sleeping. Although babies do not tend to sleep for long hours in a row, and it is normal for babies to have a 2 to 3-hour nap window, lying down with them relaxes your body and mind.
The abrasions and tears in vaginal delivery and the incision of a C-section cause pain and uneasiness for the mother. The tears are entirely normal, and their recovery depends on the severity of the wound. Similarly, the incision of a C-section takes some time to heal. All you have to do is take care of the wounds, keep them clean, take the prescribed medication for pain, and use cold packs for inflammation. Monitor for any signs of infection and consult a doctor immediately if any symptom persists. It is always a good idea to use donut-shaped cushions for sitting on to reduce strain on stitches.
When the superficial mucous membrane starts to shed, it results in vaginal discharge. This discharge is heavy after delivery but reduces within a few weeks and lasts up to 40 days. If the release is accompanied by pelvic pain and fever, immediately consult your doctor.
Changing hormones can trigger a >rush of emotions in the mother. Many women experience a feeling of loneliness and anxiety commonly known as baby blues. Symptoms can be mild to severe. The most common indications are crying spells, sleeplessness, mood swings, and stress. Usually, these symptoms subside within two weeks after the delivery. Still, if you experience severe mood changes, loss of appetite, and overwhelming fatigue and exhaustion. It might be postpartum depression, and it would be a good idea to consult a doctor and discuss your problem sooner than later.
While mothers might not be able to do strenuous exercise in the initial postpartum period, it is a good idea to keep yourself moving with gentle physical activities like walking and stretching. Exercise increases your blood circulation in the body, which helps the wounds to heal quickly, tones muscles, and can help relieve fatigue and constipation. Taking care of your back is essential as these muscles are affected the most during labor.
It can be tough to look after a newborn, especially when the mother is feeding the baby too. It is a good idea to ask your family and close friends to take care of the baby while you do something to enjoy and pamper yourself. You need to socialize more, visit places and get time to do something interesting, like carrying on with hobbies, so you can relax and keep your mind off the stress and anxiety.
Make a to-do list for your everyday chores whenever you get time to stay calm and focused on your workload. Focus on one thing at a time can help you complete your tasks and feel accomplished. It can help declutter your brain and helps you function better. Stay calm about your unfinished jobs. Also, it is a good idea to get help from other family members or hire domestic help to keep yourself from exerting unnecessarily.
Be aware that your baby’s well-being depends on you and your actions. Lack of knowledge or following a random diet plan or exercise routine can adversely affect your’s and your baby’s health. If you feel confused and indecisive about matters related to your and your baby’s health, it is better to get expert advice. Trained professionals can understand your problems to provide better solutions.
Because of high hormone levels in the body during pregnancy, your hair grows faster and sheds less. But right after the delivery, when the body starts to stabilize, you may experience hair loss for up to five months. Your skin can also look and feel different, especially around the belly.do not worry too much, as all this is normal and gets better with time and care.
Childbirth is an integral part of our lives. The time around childbirth is crucial for the mother and the baby. There is evidence that if the physical and emotional well-being of the mother and her baby is not taken care of, it poses adverse effects on both. Family and friends can play a significant role in providing postnatal care to the mother so she can take better care of her baby. If matters need professional attention, healthcare workers can help identify and treat health problems to ensure a healthy mother and baby.
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