Many expectant Mothers will do whatever it takes to make them feel more equipped and able to care for their newborn baby. This can involve birthing classes, support groups and researching in books and online. This preparation also makes them feel more at ease about the birth itself and the changes to their daily routine. But in the anticipation and excitement of giving birth, many mothers find that they are not prepared for postpartum recovery. With little emphasis on the changes to your body after the delivery, it can be a confusing and stressful time. Especially if this is your first baby. Recovery is never going to happen overnight, so you need to be prepared for the process and all that comes with it. These healing hints will keep your stress levels down and make for a much quicker postpartum recovery.
Sleep is essential
It’s common knowledge that babies can often interfere with their parent’s sleeping patterns. Sleep is what our bodies need to heal and rejuvenate. Without enough sleep, your body will feel exhausted and drained, and it could even take longer for you to heal. Sleep deprivations is also a factor in new mother’s developing postnatal depression. So as hard as it might be try to fit in as much sleep time as you possibly can. Sleeping when your baby sleeps is often a good rule of thumb. The first few days, in particular, your body will be in need of rest. Ask your partner or a trusted family member to take over baby duties while you get some much-needed shut-eye. Try to have blocks of at least four hours sleep a few times a week to keep the blues at bay. That way you know your body is having enough sleep to begin healing, and you’ll have more energy as a result. It will take time for you and your baby to get into a regular sleeping routine. So any opportunity you have to take a nap, make sure you do it.
Recovery cannot be rushed
Having a baby whether through vaginal delivery or through C-section, is going to cause trauma to your body. All of our bodies react in different ways, and there is no way of definitively knowing how long your recovery process will take. Your body may have swelling, bruising, sore muscles and wounds to deal with. All of which will take time to heal fully. So it’s important that you don’t get impatient and rush your recovery process. Even if you feel better after a few days, your body will still not be back to normal just yet. You may find tasks such as walking upstairs, riding in the car and even blowing your nose can cause pain and discomfort. So it’s essential you don’t push yourself too much, especially in the first few days.
Your body will begin to change after birth and return to how it was before you became pregnant. Your organs will start to return to their original position, and your uterus will shrink. You’ll also experience heavy menstrual bleeding which can cause symptoms like cramps and mood swings. Your hormones will also need time to even out and can cause you to develop acne, hair loss and night sweats. If you want to learn how to breastfeed your baby, you may find that your breasts temporarily become swollen and sore. Making it uncomfortable to wear certain items of clothing and carry your child. These are just a few of the symptoms new mothers will have to deal with, but they vary from woman to woman.
With all this change occurring, your body needs time to recuperate. This can often take anywhere between six and twelve weeks. So don’t start planning to go back to work or doing strenuous exercise in the weeks immediately after you’ve given birth. Your body will not thank you for it.
Know what everything looks like
When you return home, as unpleasant as it may sound use a handheld mirror and see what everything looks like down below. Get into the habit of doing this frequently, especially if you have stitches and a c-section incision. It is obviously going to feel tender and sore so always do this is a comfortable position that isn’t stretching the area too much. Doing this regularly will help you see how well you are healing and highlight any issues before they get worse. If there see any changes such as swelling, discharge or redness you need to contact your doctor as these are typical signs of infection. If you can confidently let them know when this change occurred, they will be better equipped to help you.
Accept help and support
Having a baby is an experience that will change your life in so many ways. In the early stages of parenthood, you will find that caring for a baby and running a home is a constant juggling act. You will need to run errands, keep the house clean and go shopping, all while making sure your baby is happy and cared for. But doing too much can stunt your recovery and make you feel worse. So if you are offered help from family and friends, gladly accept it. Even it’s something small such as giving the baby a bottle or cooking your dinner; it will take one thing off your mind for a while. You can also seek help and support if you think you need it. This could be in the form of a cleaning service, new parents support group or from medical experts like kingsway compounding chemist. Doing so can get your recovery back on track and reduce the stress and pressure you might have been experiencing.
Hopefully by now, you should know how to take care of yourself after you’ve given birth to your beautiful baby. While they will be your number one priority, it’s essential that you take care of yourself too. If you continue to find it difficult to cope, always seek help and support from family, friends and medical experts.
