The period after childbirth is both a joyous one and a challenging one. Mothers go through series of adjustments and recovery lasting weeks to even months. Some mothers lose themselves in the bid to taking care of their babies. Some forget to take care of themselves because all efforts are concentrated on the baby while some others manage to find the balance. By and large, the period is challenging. The new normal is in no way like the old normal.
Getting through the first few weeks can be more comfortable with the following tips on rest, help, feeding, and exercise.
- Plenty of rest
Fatigue and tiredness are a common theme during the postpartum period and getting enough sleep may be difficult. However, making sure to sleep whenever the baby sleeps can help cumulate the rest periods and reduce the fatigue.
- Seeking help
Be willing to accept help from family and friends, especially with household chores and other tasks to relieve your burden. That way, the mother has the opportunity to concentrate on care for the baby.
- Eating healthy meals
A healthy diet post-childbirth promotes body healing. Foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and proteins are particularly helpful. It is essential to take fluids too because of breastfeeding.
- Regular exercise
Gradually easing yourself into an exercise routine helps the body increase and maintain energy levels thereby promoting body healing. An activity as simple as taking a walk around the house or neighborhood goes a long way.
Handling Physical Body Changes
The postpartum period comes with emotional and physical changes. Examples of such physical changes include weight gain and breast engorgement.
- Weight gain/loss
In the bid to losing weight, mothers engage in healthy eating, exercise, and breastfeeding because it increases daily calorie burn.
Additionally, the stomach size does not automatically return to its previous condition before the pregnancy. To restore the stomach size to its initial flat state, mothers rely on girdles. The choice of stomach girdle to use depends on getting great postpartum girdle brands information.
- Breast engorgement
After childbirth, naturally, the breasts fill with milk. However, the swelling can be uncomfortable for mothers. Applying warm or cold cloth pads to the breasts help ease the discomfort. When the nipples become sore from breastfeeding, nipple creams can be used to soothe the pain and cracking. Even without the nipple creams, the body adjusts with time and the soreness vanishes.
- Constipation
Constipation is also a common phenomenon post-delivery and can be helped by eating foods rich in fiber-content to stimulate their bowel movement. The fiber in the food also relieves hemorrhoids which may happen on occasion. Drinking plenty of water helpstoo.
- Changes in the perineum and uterus
During childbirth, the perineum (the region of the abdomen surrounding the urogenital and anal openings) stretches and sometimes tears. Activities that aid the recovery of the perineum include Kegel exercises, sitting on a pillow, icing the area with cold towels.The uterus, on the other hand, shrinks after childbirth, an action that causes pain and cramps. With time, the pain subsides.
- Sweating
It is not uncommon to experience night-time sweating after having a baby. Steps to ensure body cooling should be followed e.g., removing blankets from the bed.
Eu am născut natural,c-am greu dar a meritat!
Am nascut natural, am noroc ca bebe doarme noptea foarte bine, 2 reprize pt mâncat de max 15 min. Ziua nu doarme decât max ora. In rest totul singura, cu bune cu rele m am descurcat. Trebuie pt ca am vrut sa fiu mama!
Intradevar schimbarile sunt foarte mari dupa ce devii mama.
Schimbarile sunt foarte mari odata cu venirea pe lume a unui copilas. In primul rand grijile sunt mai mari ca si responsabilitatile.
Eu am doua nasteri naturale si sunt mandra de acest lucru,chiar daca corpul meu a suferit cateva modificari
Am foarte fericita ca am reusit sa nasc natural.
Am avut o nastere foarte grea , dar baietelul meu este toata viata mea , schimbarile sunt enorme si la fel si stilul de viata