The postpartum care period is the time for the healing and body adjustment of the mothers after childbirth. But, unfortunately, the negligence in the quality of maternal and childcare can even lead to maternal and infant death in this six-month duration.
The primary care of newborns includes early breastfeeding, maintaining the baby’s body temperature to warm, and hygiene in the umbilical cord and skincare, along with handwashing.
The mother’s body goes through a lot during pregnancy and labor. Therefore, to overcome the trauma and induce early healing, the mother should follow a healthy postpartum care lifestyle that includes suitable exercise and a proper nutritional diet. In addition, the mother should perform some daily activities under the guidance of a gynecologist.
What are the postpartum care supplies needed for bleeding in your (Postpartum care plan) by every mother?
Regardless of how you gave birth to the newborn (either normal delivery through vagina or c-section delivery), you will have some vaginal bleeding and discharge called lochia after childbirth. It would be best if you use proper supplies to manage the bleeding, and this will enhance your comfort; healing.
Maternal pads – These pads are large, thick and can handle the flow of postpartum bleeding.
Mesh underwear – These type of underwear are comfortable, stretchable, and breathable. Mesh underwears can hold those giant maternity pads and ice packs in their place. They are disposable, and you can throw them when you are done with them.
Chux pads These are protective and waterproof pads that you can use on your bed, or anywhere you lie down to prevent any stains from postpartum bleeding.
Back Pain – A good herb enriched back pain oil massage will help mother to relieve back pain after delivery. Use this special massage oil especially recommended by Dr Tanima Singhal.
Supplies needed for soothing vaginal soreness after delivery
When you return from the hospital, you will still have a little discomfort. The reasons for this discomfort are vaginal stitches, tear, C-section incision or haemorrhoids. The use of these things will ease your pain upto some level.
Squirt bottle You need to fill it with lukewarm water and squeeze it over your perineum while you go for urination. This process will increase blood flow to the area, clean the site, and also aids in the healing.
Sitz bath. This is a small tub filled with warm or cold water. You need to sit in a warm sitz bath for almost twenty minutes, which will also encourage blood circulation. On the other hand, a cold sitz bath will help to reduce swelling and pain. Ice packs will also reduce swelling and pain.
Disposable wash clothes or gauze pads. These clothes or pads are used to dry yourself after you use the bathroom or squirt bottle.
Anaesthetic creams. Foams, ointments such as Epifoam or Dermoplast will provide you with a cooling and numbing sensation. Hence, it will make it easy for you to bear the pain.
Healthy diet. You need to consume fruit juices and fruits rich in fibre content to keep up your energy and improve your bowel movements. Dr Tanima Singhal recommends Dr Mix Multigrain mix to be taken with milk 2 times in a day for faster recovery.
Postpartum care diet
How to take care of perineum female after birth for soothing perineum pain, perineum lump, perineum tear?
Commonly the area between your vagina and back passage known as the perineum either get cut or tear during childbirth. The dissolvable stitches are used to repair the tear and help in healing.
- Keep your perineum clean.
- Use warm water to clean your perineum.
- Wash your perineum after every time you go to the toilet.
- Use toilet paper or soft dry cloth over your perineum, don’t use a hairdryer to dry up the area.
- Wearing breathable cloth materials will help you with healing.
- Keep changing sanitary pads to avoid infection.
To strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, you should take advice from a doctor or midwife for some painless and easy exercises. This will enhance the blood circulation to the damaged tissues and induce healing.
Use of ice packs for initial 2-3 days can help to reduce swelling. You need to use the ice packs for around half an hour at a time with one hour of rest in between.
Consume a diet rich in fiber, and this will ease your bowel movements.
Postpartum care – diet rich in fibre
What are the challenges of following postpartum exercise plan ?
Of course, pelvic floor exercises can help speed your recovery. Still, the complications such as postpartum depression, C-section incisions and postpartum hemorrhage, excess weight gain in pregnancy can interfere with postpartum exercises.
There are particular challenges that you might come across following postpartum exercise plan :
- Lower abdominal pain.
- Vaginal lump
- Back pain
- Constipation and haemorrhage
- Urinary incontinence
- Heaviness and feeling pressure around the vagina.
All these symptoms can create hindrance while you exercise, but you can overcome this pain with the guidance of a doctor.
In the initial weeks, you can make your body ready for working out. For example, you can start with walking if you are a runner.
You will experience aches and pains because of the relaxin hormone, which helps to lose joints for labour during pregnancy.
All these symptoms can create hindrance while you exercise, but you can overcome this pain with the guidance of a doctor.
In the initial weeks, you can make your body ready for working out. For example, you can start with walking if you are a runner.
Postpartum exercise plan
Postpartum recovery tips and Postpartum recovery timeline week by week
First week
Your vagina will hurt a lot, although it depends on the tear.
Vaginal bleeding will be considered as usual.
The uterus will start coming back to its standard pre-pregnancy size.
Your incisions may be painful.
Movements will be complicated. So, it would be best if you avoid the actions as much as you can.
Second week
You may feel vaginal itching, and this shows that the area is healing.
The sutures may swell up when filled with fluid.
Vaginal soreness will be still there, but your movements will be a little comfortable.
The incision site might be a little itchy this time.
Sixth week
Your uterus will come back to its previous size, and the bleeding will stop.
Your scar might feel a bit itchy and numb this time.
You can perform exercises, or you can drive or lift something but don’t lift the baby.
You may feel exhausted. If you have feelings of depression and anxiety, then you should discuss this with your doctor.
Six months
Usually, women gain complete bladder control again.
If you were suffering from hair fall after delivery, then they should stop falling now.
Your menstrual cycle may start again or might not come upto one year or more.
The breastmilk might dry up, although it depends on your work schedule.
One year
You might be feeling yourself again, or you may still have a little extra weight in your body.
The scars would have faded till now.
If you continue breastfeeding for upto one year, then your breast may appear different than pre-pregnancy.
What are the warning signs after Pregnancy and childbirth?
There are sure warning signs which should not be neglected after childbirth; otherwise, they might be life-threatening:
Chest pain or trouble in breathing.
Fast breathing, high blood pressure, fast heart rate or any other cardiovascular diseases.
Blood clots, heavy bleeding and postpartum haemorrhage.
Postpartum depression, headache, extreme pain or seizures.
Symptoms of vaginal infection include; burning while urinating, discharge, redness and pain in the lower back or side.
A severe condition occurs when amniotic fluid or any fetal material enters the mother’s bloodstream.
What are the usual postpartum care problems you should not worry about?
There are some common symptoms that you can expect during your postpartum recovery:
Abdominal pain.
This is also known as “afterpains”. When the uterus returns to its standard shape and size, then you might feel the pain due to its shrinkage. You can use heating pads to ease your pain.
Baby blues.
Many women, especially new moms, might struggle with the sad feeling for few weeks after the delivery. This condition is commonly known as “baby blues”; hormone changes cause this.
Constipation
It is ubiquitous and utterly familiar if you face constipation after childbirth.
Haemorrhoids
Haemorrhoids can be caused due to swelling of a vein in the rectum in pregnancy or due to stretch and pushing during delivery.
Postpartum back pain
Postpartum back pain exercises to get back pain relieve
Postpartum back pain is caused due to loose ligaments and joints, and the reason for this is a hormone known as Relaxin. Relaxin is produced in your body during pregnancy and helps your uterus in growth along with loosening of your muscles and joints of your low back and causes back pain after delivery.
To get rid of back pain, you need to practice these exercises:
Pelvic tilts This activity is one of the best exercises to bring your hips back to its natural position.
Glute Bridge This exercise will activate your butt muscles and will maintain the stability of your trunk.
Hollow body hold This will provide strength to all of your ab muscles.
Cat-Cow It will improve spine mobility.
Bird Dog and Deep Squat
What are the things needed after the baby delivery?
Some of the standard postpartum supplies include:
- Maternity pads and chux pads
- Large comfortable or mesh underwear
- Perineum bottle
- Gauze pads
- Pain medicines (don’t take any over-the-counter medication without consultation of your gynaecologist)
- Ice packs and heating pads
- A donut pillow
- Stool softener (sometimes needed)
- Supportive bra, breast pads and nipple creams (for sore, cracked or painful nipples)
These are the 10 important things everyone must know for postpartum care for mother.
If you have any queries comment below, we will be happy to guide you.
For Online Consultation about Garbh Sanskar, pregnancy care, breastfeeding counselling, child nutrition or Parenting issues, Contact at clinic’s helpline number 8604803205 between 11 am to 6 pm for details.