Pregnancy is one of the most crucial phases of a woman’s life. However, the period after pregnancy is even more important because it includes adjustment and welcoming the new one.
The period after the pregnancy for the first six weeks is referred to as the postpartum period.
Though this is a joyous time, the mothers need to heal and adjust during this time. So you need to take into heed several precautions.
These precautions might help you to deal with your life after pregnancy and manage all the frustration. So, let’s take a glance at the precautions that you may take after pregnancy.
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9 Precautions After Delivery That You Must Take!
Take plenty of rest
Getting through pregnancy is a daunting task. So, you may try to sleep as much as possible to get rid of the extra fatigue and tiredness.
Additionally, since your baby might wake you up every two to three hours to feed, you may make sure to take advantage of your free time by sleeping. One of the best tips to take rest after pregnancy may be to sleep when your baby is sleeping.
More on it here.
Go for a postpartum checkup
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a Postpartum checkup may not include just a single visit after your delivery.
Rather it should include ongoing postpartum care that could help you to heal in the best possible manner. So you may connect with your healthcare provider in the initial few weeks after delivery.
Moreover, your doctor might even provide you a comprehensive evaluation regarding your postpartum period within 12 weeks after delivery.
Your postpartum checkup with the doctor may help you to alleviate your mood and emotional well-being.
Additionally, there are several other aspects that you might know through your postpartum checkup. Let us have a look at these aspects.
• Information about feeding and infant care
• Birth spacing and contraception
• Sleeping habits.
• Issues related to fatigue and tirednessBesides these aspects, the doctor might even conduct a physical exam. This exam could help to identify any issues in your cervix, vagina, uterus, and abdomen to ensure if you are healing or not.
Moreover, you could even clear out any queries related to the postpartum period, and even ask certain tips regarding the adjustment with your new life. Hence, a postpartum checkup is one of the best tips that you may follow after pregnancy.
A few of the important aspects are discussed here.
Seek help from others
It may not be possible for you to handle all the things alone after pregnancy. So, you could seek help from others because the notion of a Wonder Woman may be fictitious.
So you could ask your friends or relatives to pick up groceries or other things for you while they go out to the market. Or you might even ask them to take care of your baby while you take a bath or go for a walk.
Other than this, you could even hire a neighborhood teen who could help you with your daily errands. Nowadays there are even professional services that could help you after your pregnancy.
Focus on healthy meals
The postpartum phase is the healing phase. So you need to consume a healthy diet that could help you to heal in the best possible manner.
You could include different varieties of food items in your diet, like proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Additionally, you may even augment your fluid consumption because it would help you to cope with the loss due to breastfeeding.
Healthy tips while breastfeeding are discussed here.Coping with mood changes
The postpartum phase could trigger a plethora of emotions inside you. At a time you might be feeling quite happy and joyous.
However, at another time, you may get angry and ambitious. Generally, the new moms may feel worried and tired due to the Baby Blues.
You could also regard it as postpartum depression.
As a result, you need to take care of yourself and cope with the mood swings. You could share your feelings and emotions with your partner or friends and seek their help.
Sometimes symptoms like excessive mood swings, fatigue, lack of appetite, and anxiety might even lead to postpartum depression. In such cases, you may always contact your healthcare provider for help.
Focus on exercising
You may focus on exercising once your doctor lets you know it’s okay to exercise.
However, make sure not to indulge in too strenuous exercises altogether. You might take a brisk walk near your house, or even indulge in some light exercises that could help to amplify your energy level, but not affect your healing parts.
Few important pointers discussed here.Episiotomy care
One of the best methods to take Episiotomy care is to take baths while sitting in water. You may sit a few inches above the water that could help to cover up your buttocks.
Initially, you could take baths in cool water and then later in warm water.
You may even try to sit on a cushion or pillow rather than sitting on a hard surface which could give you a painful feeling on your stitches.Additionally, once you urinate, you may wash the area with warm water and gently pat dry it. It may even be crucial to wipe the area carefully after a bowel movement to evade any infection.
You could truncate the swelling using ice packs and local anesthetic sprays. In certain situations, you might even connect with your doctor and ask to consume anti-inflammatory drugs that could help to relieve the pain and swelling.
More on it here.
It is very crucial to take the necessary precautions related to your sexual life after childbirth.
Since you have had delivery, your body needs time to heal. So according to the doctors, you might take a break for up to four to six weeks after delivery to have sex.
On the other hand, if you have sex during this period, then it could amplify the risks of reopening the healing tissue, increasing the bleeding, and spreading infections.
However, even after this duration, if you have sex, then you could notice lower vagina lubrication. The reason behind this is due to the hormones and it is temporary.
Hence, you should use water-based lubricants that could help you. Additionally, you may always find positions that are comfortable for you and put less pressure on your healing areas.
Here is a governmental paper regarding the same.
Know when to call your doctor
Certain circumstances may require you to call your doctor related to your postpartum health.
You should call your doctor in the following situations. You need to take the necessary precautions by calling your doctor if you soak more than one sanitary napkin in an hour.
Additionally, if you see that you pass large clots and have greater bleeding the normal, then you should always connect with your doctor. In case your vaginal discharge is smelling or if you have a fever of more than 38 degrees Celsius, you might call your doctor.
You may even call a doctor in situations if your incision becomes swollen or drains pus and is red. Situations when you feel irritation during urination or are unable to control it.
If you have severe headaches and hallucinations or become depressed. You should also call your doctor if you have suicidal thoughts.
In case you have an amplified pain in your vaginal area or if you face belly pain, then you may always consult your doctor.
Detailed information here.
Final Words On Precautions After Delivery
Thus, recovering from the postpartum phase might be difficult. But once you fully recover, you will enjoy welcoming your new baby into your world.
Hence, you need to be very crucial in maintaining all the precautions and following the necessary tips during the postpartum.
Any carelessness on your part could prove to be a big blunder for the health of your child as well as you.