Post Delivery Precautions

Precautions You Should Take After Delivery

The time after delivery is known as the postpartum period and this is one of the most essential phases in a woman’s
life. During this stage, your body undergoes several changes. It develops its own requirements which need to be fulfilled in order to return to a normal lifestyle.
The postpartum stage starts right after the time of delivery and it ends when you nearly return to the pre-pregnant state.

In these six to eight weeks, you need to take very good care of yourself. In general, as a new mother, you would require lots of sleep, rest and good nutrition. Here a few things that you need to keep in mind after delivery.

What To Expect After Delivery?
Post-delivery, your body faces several changes which include physical and emotional problems.

>Physically, you might experience:
Constipation problems
Sore breasts
Hemorrhoids (blood clot)
Hot and cold flashes
Urinary incontinence.
You may also lose weight post delivery.

>Emotionally, you may experience:
Baby blues
Postpartum depression
Irritability
Anxiety
Mood swings
Guilt
Prolonged periods of sadness.
These are very few common symptoms that are visible in all new mothers.

As your body goes through several hormonal
and physical changes, it adjusts itself to the various changing roles and the needs of your baby.

Simple Precautions After Delivery:
These changes make it necessary for any pregnant women to take some basic precautions after delivery:
1. Giving Your Body Rest:
Every baby has his or her own clock and this is discovered by every new parent as soon as they take the responsibility
of taking care of their baby. In general, a newborn usually wakes every three hours. During this time your baby needs to
be fed, cleaned and comforted. Owing to this routine, it is very hard for parents, especially the mother, to sleep.
This will result in extreme exhaustion for you as a mother. In such situations it is not possible for you to sleep for 8
hours, not at least for several months.

Therefore, the following suggestions can help you find relief:
In the first few weeks, relieve yourself from all caring duties, except for feeding your baby. During this time take
ample rest and care of yourself.

Change your sleep routine. Try to adjust to your baby’s routine, sleep when your baby sleeps and wake when she
wakes.

Have your baby’s bed near you to save energy and time.

Get outside once daily. Try doing a little walking and some exercise to ease the movement of your body.

After 3 weeks of breastfeeding, introduce your baby to the bottle. This will help you take some rest, while someone
can feed your baby without your help.
If you have too many friends and family coming to see the baby, do not get busy entertaining them. If you are tired, go take a nap.

Giving Your Body Nutrition:
After childbirth you need to heal. Your body has felt several changes and you need to get accustomed to them. In order
to do so, you require proper nutrition.
Proper nutrition will give strength to your body and aid it in its quick recovery.
If you gain weight, do not worry. Weight gain will help your body to fight and recover. Most doctors advise new mothers to eat when they are hungry. So whenever you feel hungry, eat!
You do not always require four meals. The simple rule is to eat whatever you like when you feel hungry.
Eat a lot of grains, vegetables, fruits, dairy and protein. If possible, try to maintain a balanced diet by having an equal amount of all kinds of food. Include dry fruits and
nuts in your diet. Exercise every day.

3. Assign Or Hire Help:
Babies require a lot of work. Their demands and needs change every day and it is very hard for new parents to cope
with them. If you and your husband are working individuals, then things become demanding. Hiring help for household activities or asking someone
from your family to help you for a few days can help you in several ways.
You must physically save yourself from exertion, have ample time to rest, and your household chores get completed without you. Hiring help can give you more time to take care of you and your baby.

Taking care of your body, giving yourself ample rest and eating proper nutritional diet, after the birth is as important as
looking after your baby. Remember that unless you are fit yourself, you cannot look after your little one.

Source :momjunction.com